cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Systems Study on How to Dispose of Fleets of Small Satellites

A systems study was conducted to determine the most mass-efficient method of achieving spacecraft disposal. The focus of the study was on disposal by atmospheric reentry of constellations of small microsatellites in low earth orbit. Policy, tracking limitations, storage orbits, and natural orbit decay are important considerations with regards to spacecraft disposal. Various chemical and electrical propulsive technologies can be compared against tethers and ballistic coefficient altering techniques to determine the most mass-efficient method for disposal of spacecraft by atmospheric reentry within one year. It was determined that tethers and ballistic-coefficient altering methods are indeed the most efficient method of achieving atmospheric reentry of spacecraft within a certain range of altitude and mass. Tethers are the most mass-efficient method of spacecraft disposal for large satellites while decreasing the ballistic coefficient by deploying a balloon around the spacecraft or deploying a drag parachute is the most mass-efficient method for small spacecraft with a low initial altitude. The development of more advanced propulsion systems will be necessary to deorbit small spacecraft at higher LEO initial altitudes. NOMENCLATURE a = semi-major axis (m) u = gravitational parameter e R T f v p
Smad3 Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor-β and Activin Signaling by Competing with Smad4 for FAST-2 Binding

Abstract Transcriptional regulation by transforming growth factor-β and activin is mediated by interaction of Smad2 and Smad3 with specific transcription factors and/or DNA elements. However, Smad3 behaves differently from Smad2 in regulating transcription by a winged-helix transcription factor, FAST-2, on an activin-responsive element (ARE) in the Xenopus Mix.2 promoter. Smad3 alone was able to stimulate the ARE through FAST-2, but inhibited the ARE transactivation mediated by Smad2/Smad4 following receptor activation. We characterized the functional domains that are involved in these two activities of Smad3. Deletion of the MH1 domain as well as mutations of four lysine residues in the MH1 domain abrogated the inhibitory activity of Smad3, but did not compromise the self-stimulatory function. In contrast, deletion of the MH2 domain or a point mutation of glycine 379 within this domain obliterated the self-stimulatory activity of Smad3, but not the inhibitory activity. In an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we found that Smad3 was able to associate with the FAST-2·ARE complex and that this association was dependent on FAST-2. In addition, Smad3 was not able to directly bind the ARE in a DNase I protection assay, in which FAST-2 binds the ARE around a motif (TGTGTATT) previously characterized to associate with the human FAST-1 protein. Interestingly, Smad4 was also able to directly associate with the FAST-2·ARE complex through binding with FAST-2. In a gel shift assay, the association of FAST-2 with Smad4 was mutually exclusive from the association with Smad3. Taken together, these data indicate that Smad3 exerts the inhibitory activity by competitive association with FAST-2.
On pointwise dimension of non-hyperbolic measures

We construct a diffeomorphism preserving a non-hyperbolic measure whose pointwise dimension does not exist almost everywhere. In the one-dimensional case we also show that such diffeomorphisms are typical in certain situations.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Sertraline, or a Combination in Childhood Anxiety

Background Anxiety disorders are common psychiatric conditions affecting children and adolescents. Although cognitive behavioral therapy and selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors have shown efficacy in treating these disorders, little is known about their relative or combined efficacy. Methods In this randomized, controlled trial, we assigned 488 children between the ages of 7 and 17 years who had a primary diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or social phobia to receive 14 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy, sertraline (at a dose of up to 200 mg per day), a combination of sertraline and cognitive behavioral therapy, or a placebo drug for 12 weeks in a 2:2:2:1 ratio. We administered categorical and dimensional ratings of anxiety severity and impairment at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Results The percentages of children who were rated as very much or much improved on the Clinician Global Impression–Improvement scale were 80.7% for combination therapy (P<0.001), 59.7% for cognitive behavioral therapy (P<0.001), and 54.9% for sertraline (P<0.001); all therapies were superior to placebo (23.7%). Combination therapy was superior to both monotherapies (P<0.001). Results on the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale documented a similar magnitude and pattern of response; combination therapy had a greater response than cognitive behavioral therapy, which was equivalent to sertraline, and all therapies were superior to placebo. Adverse events, including suicidal and homicidal ideation, were no more frequent in the sertraline group than in the placebo group. No child attempted suicide. There was less insomnia, fatigue, sedation, and restlessness associated with cognitive behavioral therapy than with sertraline. Conclusions Both cognitive behavioral therapy and sertraline reduced the severity of anxiety in children with anxiety disorders; a combination of the two therapies had a superior response rate. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00052078.)
Predictors of tonsillectomy after previous adenoidectomy for upper airway obstruction.

Objective. (1) Characterize risk factors for subsequent tonsillectomy in pediatric patients undergoing primary adenoidectomy for upper airway obstruction. (2) Compare rates of subsequent tonsillectomy between adenoidectomy patients with and without upper airway obstruction.Study Design. Historical cohort study with a nested case-control study. Cohort data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier plots and a multiple regression model. Case-control data were analyzed using logistic regression.Subjects and Methods. Patients undergoing adenoidectomy without tonsillectomy at the University of Missouri between 1995 and 2010 were identified using billing records and selected chart review. A nested case-control study with detailed chart review was conducted to determine predictors of subsequent tonsillectomy in patients with upper airway obstruction.Results. Of 1291 patients identified in the historical cohort, 7.8% later underwent tonsillectomy. Age younger than 3 years (P = .027), female sex (P < .0001), and upper airw...
Current density and electric field analysis of microelectrodes using finite element modeling

Geometrically and electrically accurate finite element models of microelectrodes used in microstimulation of the central nervous system were created to examine the current density along the surface of the electrode as well as the electric field generated within the tissue medium. Sharp tipped microelectrodes (tip radius=15 /spl mu/m; cone angle=10/spl deg/) were examined with electrode surface areas that ranged from 250-1000 /spl mu/m/sup 2/. Analysis of these models showed that the current density was concentrated at the tip of the microelectrode, and increasing the surface area of the electrode has little effect on reducing the peak current density. The models also showed that as the surface area of the microelectrode was increased, the gradient of the electric field within the tissue decreased, and the modeling of the electric field generated by a sharp tipped microelectrode by a theoretical point source electrode was valid only for distances greater than 20 /spl mu/m from the electrode tip. The results of this study have important implications for electrochemical reactions at the electrode surface, and for modeling of neural excitation with metal microelectrodes.
Relationships between endogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone, gonadotropins, and follicular development after weaning in sows.

Two experiments were conducted to examine relationshipsbetween endogenous gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH), concentrations of gonadotropins in the anterior pituitary and blood and ovarian follicular development in weaned sows. In the first experiment, 48 sows were slaughtered during 0 to 5 days after weaning. Because effects of breed, parity, farm and season of slaughter were confounded with day after weaning, data were analyzed solely on the basis of follicular development. Sows were divided into 4 groups based on the size and number of the largest ovarian follicles. Group 1 consisted of 11 sows with largest follicles 14) follicles 5 to 10mm in diameter. Group 4 coniisted of sows (n=12) with follicles>10 mm in diameter. Data from 3 sows that had ovulated were omitted from the analyses.Sows in Groups 1,2, 3 and 4 were killed atm average of 0.7 ± 0.4, 2.5 * 0.2,4.7 ± 0.1 and 4.8 ± 0.2 days after weaning, respectively. Concentrations of GnRH in medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), stalk median eminence (SME) and hypophyseal portal area (HPA) were greater in sows with greater follicular development (Groups 3 and 4). Concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) in anterior pituitary (AP) and serum were also greater in Groups 3 and 4. Concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in AP and serum were not significantly different among groups. In the second experiment, 27 second parity Duroc sows were slaughtered 0, 60 or 96 h after weaning (9 sows per group). Concentrations of both LH and FSH in serum samples obtained at 6-h intervals from weaning to slaughter increased after weaning, and by 96 h levels of LH indicated a preovulatory surge was beginning. Follicular diameter increased with time after weaning, with increases in number of follicles >5 mm in diameter, and decreases in number of follicles <5 mm in diameter. Concentrations of LH, but not FSH, in AP were greater at both 60 and 96 h than at 0 h after weaning (P<0.01). Concentrations of GnRH in MBH and SME were greater at 60 and 96 h than at 0 h (P<0.05). The concentration of GnRH in HPA was increased only at 96 h after weaning. In both experiments, concentration of GnRH increased after weaning, concurrently with postweaning increases in serum FSH, serum and pituitary LH and follicular development. Thus we propose that initiation of estrus and ovulation after weaning may be associated with changes in production of GnRH.
Electrophysiological correlates of high-level perception during spatial navigation

We studied the electrophysiological basis of object recognition by recording scalp electroencephalograms while participants played a virtual-reality taxi driver game. Participants searched for passengers and stores during virtual navigation in simulated towns. We compared oscillatory brain activity in response to store views that were targets or nontargets (during store search) or neutral (during passenger search). Even though store category was solely defined by task context (rather than by sensory cues), frontal electrophysiological activity in the low frequency bands (primarily in the θ [4–8 Hz] band) reliably distinguished between the target, nontarget, and neutral store views. These results implicate low-frequency oscillatory brain activity in frontal regions as an important variable in the study of the cognitive processes involved in object recognition, categorization, and other forms of high-level perception.
Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Macrophage Rafts Reveals Compartmentalized Activation of the Proteasome and of Proteasome-mediated ERK Activation in Response to Lipopolysaccharide

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a glycolipid component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, is a potent initiator of the innate immune response of the macrophage. LPS triggers downstream signaling by selectively recruiting and activating proteins in cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains called lipid rafts. We applied proteomics analysis to macrophage detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) during an LPS exposure time course in an effort to identify and validate novel events occurring in macrophage rafts. Following metabolic incorporation in cell culture of heavy isotopes of amino acids arginine and lysine ([13C6]Arg and [13C6]Lys) or their light counterparts, a SILAC (stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture)-based quantitative, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry proteomics approach was used to profile LPS-induced changes in the lipid raft proteome of RAW 264.7 macrophages. Unsupervised network analysis of the proteomics data set revealed a marked representation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system as well as changes in proteasome subunit composition following LPS challenge. Functional analysis of DRMs confirmed that LPS causes selective activation of the proteasome in macrophage rafts and proteasome inactivation outside of rafts. Given previous reports of an essential role for proteasomal degradation of IκB kinase-phosphorylated p105 in LPS activation of ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase, we tested for a role of rafts in compartmentalization of these events. Immunoblotting of DRMs revealed proteasome-dependent activation of MEK and ERK specifically occurring in lipid rafts as well as proteasomal activity upon raft-localized p105 that was enhanced by LPS. Cholesterol extraction from the intact macrophage with methyl-β-cyclodextrin was sufficient to activate ERK, recapitulating the LPS-IκB kinase-p105-MEK-ERK cascade, whereas both it and the alternate raft-disrupting agent nystatin blocked subsequent LPS activation of the ERK cascade. Taken together, our findings indicate a critical, selective role for raft compartmentalization and regulation of proteasome activity in activation of the MEK-ERK pathway.
Soft-Timeout Distributed Key Generation for Digital Signature based on Elliptic Curve D-log for Low-Power Devices

Group based transactions are becoming common via handhelds. Single key based systems may not be able to meet various security requirements. In this paper, we propose a threshold signature scheme based on Pedersen distributed key generation principle which is suitable for handheld devices and ad-hoc networks. Existing distributed key generation protocols use either cryptosystems based on the hardness of discrete logarithm over a finite field or integer factorization. Elliptic curve cryptosystems provide a promising alternative with efficiency which is suitable for low-power devices in terms of memory and processing overhead. In the proposed scheme, the public key from the key generation protocol follows a uniform distribution in the elliptic curve additive group, and the signature can be generated and verified efficiently. We evaluated the proposed key generation protocol and signature scheme using PARI/GP, and the key generation time takes a fraction of a second and the signature signing and verifying can be finished in a few milliseconds on the LINUX Intel PXA 255 processor.
Divine Intervention? The Influence of Religious Value Communication on U.S. Intervention Policy

Opinion about U.S. foreign intervention depends on both one’s belief about how the world works and those cognitively available value conceptions about how it should work. Consistent with social identity theory, we argue that values can shape social group boundaries and that these boundaries are analogous to the position of the U.S. in the world. Thus, the religious values we explore neatly map onto opinion about whether U.S. intervention should be qualified in its scope and rationale. In this investigation, we first provide experimental tests of religious value priming conducted on Christians, Muslims, and Jews. We then assess the degree to which American Protestant clergy communicate these values. The results of both investigations support the efficacy of considering the communication of religious values in shaping public opinion on U.S. foreign intervention.
Many human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) proviruses are unique to humans

Background: Endogenous retroviruses contribute to the evolution of the host genome and can be associated with disease. Human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) is related to the mouse mammary tumor virus and is present in the genomes of humans, apes and cercopithecoids (Old World monkeys). It is unknown how long ago in primate evolution the full-length HERV-K proviruses that are in the human genome today were formed. Results: Ten full-length HERV-K proviruses were cloned from the human genome. Using provirus-specific probes, eight of the ten were found to be present in a genetically diverse set of humans but not in other extant hominoids. Intact preintegration sites for each of these eight proviruses were present in the apes. A ninth provirus was detected in the human, chimpanzee, bonobo and gorilla genomes, but not in the orang-utan genome. The tenth was found only in humans, chimpanzees and bonobos. Complete sequencing of six of the humanspecific proviruses showed that full-length open reading frames for the retroviral protein precursors Gag‐Pro‐Pol or Env were each present in multiple proviruses. Conclusions: At least eight full-length HERV-K genomes that are in the human germline today integrated after humans diverged from chimpanzees. All of the viral open reading frames and cis-acting sequences necessary for HERV-K replication must have been intact during the recent time when these proviruses formed. Multiple full-length open reading frames for all HERV-K proteins are present in the human genome today.
Partial albinism with immunodeficiency: Griscelli syndrome: Report of a case and review of the literature

Partial albinism with immunodeficiency (Griscelli syndrome) is an uncommon disorder characterized by pigmentary dilution and variable immunodeficiency. Features include a silvery-gray sheen to the hair, large clumped melanosomes in hair shafts, and prominent mature melanosomes in cutaneous melanocytes with sparse pigmentation of adjacent keratinocytes. Immunologic abnormalities most often include impaired natural killer cell activity, absent delayed-type hypersensitivity, and impaired responses to mitogens. Impaired helper T cell function and hypogammaglobulinemia have also been described. The syndrome can be differentiated from Chediak-Higashi syndrome by pathognomonic light and electron microscopic features in skin and hair, and absence of consistent granulocyte abnormalities, but similarly carries a poor prognosis without bone marrow transplantation. We describe a patient with Griscelli syndrome who presented with hepatosplenomegaly, hepatitis, pancytopenia, and silvery hair in the newborn period.
Impact of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1-Associated Cognitive Dysfunction on Activities of Daily Living and Quality of Life

We examined the impact of neuropsychological (NP) impairment on activities of daily living (ADLs) and quality of life in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)-infected persons of low socioeconomic status (SES). Thirty-nine patients were stratified into one of three groups: cognitively normal (n = 13), mild cognitive impairment (n = 15), and moderate/severe impairment (n = 11). Quality of life was assessed with the Sickness Impact Profile and ADLs were evaluated via structured interview performed in the patient's residence. While there were no significant differences across groups on disease stage, drug use, depression, or estimated premorbid IQ, cognitively impaired patients were more likely to be unemployed and fail social planning and medication management tasks. Our study confirms a previously reported association between NP impairment and unemployment among HIV-1-infected patients. The data also extend this relationship to a low-SES sample with a high base rate of unemployment, and to instrumental activities of daily living other than work.
Major Sources Of Challenges Facing The CPA Profession And Suggested Recommendations

This paper explores major sources of current changes facing the CPA profession today and tomorrow. This paper also discusses major sources of challenges facing traditional CPA services and new assurances services. In addition, the paper offers recommendations that will enhance the competitiveness of the CPA profession in future markets.
Angiotensin receptor antagonist improves cardiac reflex control of renal sodium handling in heart failure

In rats with congestive heart failure, type 1 angiotensin II receptor antagonist treatment (losartan) decreases basal renal sympathetic nerve activity and improves arterial baroreflex regulation of...
Does Independent Industry Expertise Improve Board Effectiveness? Evidence from Bank Performance following a Forced CEO Turnover

This study explores the impact of independent bank directors' financial industry expertise on the effectivenenss of board functioning by investigating bank performance following a CEO turnover. Empirical results show that following a forced CEO turnover, independent financial industry expertise improves bank performance while decreases bank risk-taking. This is likely because industry-specific expertise enhances boards’ ability to locate a superior successor CEO and to monitor and advise the new management following a forced CEO turnover. The market reaction to the announcements of a forced bank CEO turnover tends to be consistent with this view.
High-Tc Superconductors: Thermodynamic Properties

Thermodynamic properties, primarily the specific heat, of the high-Tc cuprate superconductors are reviewed. This topic was covered in a number of reviews that appeared in the early years of research on these materials. Here the emphasis is on more recent experimental results, including many measurements in magnetic fields, and on features related to phenomena that have been recognized more recently. Calorimetric evidence bearing on the symmetry of the order parameter, the nature of the transition at Tc, the effects of chemical substitutions, fluctuation effects, the melting of the vortex lattice, the existence of a pseudogap, and effects that appear to be related to stripe formation are discussed. Brief summaries of the different experimental techniques, with evaluations of their strengths and weaknesses, and of the problems and uncertainties that arise in analyses of the data are included.
Wavelet transformation induced multi-time scaling (WATMUS) model for coupled transient electro-magnetic and structural dynamics finite element analysis

Abstract Multi-functional devices that integrate electromagnetic and mechanical fields are gaining importance in a wide variety of applications. The combined mechanical and electromagnetic regimes, encompassed in these structures, make it necessary to develop effective multi-physics analysis tools at a range of temporal scales. An important consideration is that the different fields governing multi-physics response may have large frequency discrepancies, e.g. the ultra-high electromagnetic frequencies and moderate vibration frequencies. Computational analyses of these discrepant frequency problems using conventional time integration schemes can become intractable. This paper develops a framework for coupling transient electromagnetic and dynamic fields to predict the evolution of electric and magnetic fields and their fluxes in a vibrating substrate undergoing finite deformation. It addresses the issue of time integration with large frequency ratios, by introducing a novel wavelet transformation induced multi-time scaling (WATMUS) method in the finite element framework. The method significantly enhances the computational efficiency in comparison with conventional single time scale integration methods. An adaptive enhancement of WATMUS scheme allows for the optimal wavelet bases in the transformation and integration step sizes. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed WATMUS scheme is verified by comparing the results with the single time-scale simulations of the coupled transient electromagnetic nonlinear vibration problems.
Novel Dynamically Vulcanized Elastomer-Polypropylene Blends with Improved Elasticity

Abstract High elasticity in dynamically vulcanized EPDM-Polypropylene blends, as demonstrated by lower residual deformation upon release of constraint, is a much desired attribute. It has been found that this property can be improved beyond the conventional norms of highly crosslinking the rubber phase. This is achieved through the use of a polypropylene phase with a high degree of long-chain branching. The branching index, g', at molecular weight greater than 1×106 should be less than about 0.6. It is postulated that in the melt and at low frequencies the long-chain branched polypropylene behaves as a network. Therefore in the melt, the dynamically vulcanized alloy behaves as a dual network material: one network being the chemically crosslinked rubber phase, and the other being the physical network arising from the high level of long-chain branching in polypropylene. In the solid state, the co-continuous morphology arising from the choice of long-chain branched polypropylene contributes to the enhanced e...
The suspected ectopic pregnancy

Summary 1. This review deals with 500 cases in which there was a presumptive diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy or "possible ectopic pregnancy" at the time of the patient's admission to the hospital. 2. In only 40 per cent of these cases was the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy ultimately proved. 3. In 46 cases a preoperative diagnosiS of ectopic pregnancy was found at laparotomy to have been in error. 4. Of the many diagnostic criteria used to differentiate this condition, the pregnancy test was found to be the most reliable.
Education of Civil Engineers: A Symposium: Need for Reconsideration

The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Committee on Evaluation of Engineering Education was appointed in May, 1952, following discussion by Engineers' Council for Profcssic, nal Dev...
Model-based fault detection, estimation, and prediction for a class of linear distributed parameter systems

This paper addresses a new model-based fault detection, estimation, and prediction scheme for linear distributed parameter systems (DPSs) described by a class of partial differential equations (PDEs). An observer is proposed by using the PDE representation and the detection residual is generated by taking the difference between the observer and the physical system outputs. A fault is detected by comparing the residual to a predefined threshold. Subsequently, the fault function is estimated, and its parameters are tuned via a novel update law. Though state measurements are utilized initially in the parameter update law for the fault function estimation, the output and input filters in the modified observer subsequently relax this requirement. The actuator and sensor fault functions are estimated and the time to failure (TTF) is calculated with output measurements alone. Finally, the performance of detection, estimation and a prediction scheme is evaluated on a heat transfer reactor with sensor and actuator faults.
Primary Care in Extreme Environments: Medical Clinic Utilization at Antarctic Stations, 2013-2014.

Objectives The unique challenges posed by the Antarctic environment include both physiological and psychological stressors to the individual as well as the limited onsite medical capabilities available to address them. This report compares medical clinic utilization among 3 US Antarctic stations to identify differences in diagnostic frequency and utilization of clinic resources under current medical prescreening regimes for summer and winter seasons. Methods Clinic data from 3 Antarctic locations (McMurdo Station, Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, and Palmer Station) for the 2013−2014 Antarctic year were reviewed for patient encounter frequency by season, and provider-assigned visit diagnostic category. Differences between relative diagnosis frequencies among stations were analyzed, and per-capita clinic utilization was compared. Results The McMurdo clinic recorded 1555 patient encounters, with South Pole Station reporting 744 and Palmer with 128 encounters over the year. The most frequent reasons for clinic visits were orthopedic and dermatologic, with increased visits at McMurdo for respiratory illness and at the more remote locations for neurologic complaints and insomnia. Altitude-related visits were reported only at McMurdo and South Pole stations. Conclusions The clinic volume predictably correlated with station population. Insomnia and headache complaints, reported only at the South Pole Station, are likely associated with the increased elevation at that site, although they could be attributable to psychological stress from the isolated environment. Although the majority of cases could not be prevented with current screening, we suggest several changes to the current concept of operations that may decrease medical utilization and provide significant improvements to health care delivery on the ice.
CA2+ CHANNEL CA2+-DEPENDENT INACTIVATION IN A MAMMALIAN CENTRAL NEURON INVOLVES THE CYTOSKELETON

Ca2+ channel inactivation was investigated in acutely isolated hippocampal pyramidal neurons from adult rats and found to have a component dependent on intracellular Ca2+. Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation was indentified as the additional inactivation of channel current observed when Ca2+ replaced Ba2+ as the current carrying ion, and was found to be an independent process from that of Ba2+ current inactivation based on three lines of evidence: (1) no correlation between Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation and Ba2+ current inactivation was found, (2) only Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation was reduced by intracellular application of Ca2+ chelators, and (3) only Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation was sensitive to compounds which alter the cytoskeleton. Drugs which stabilize (taxol and phalloidin) and destabilize (colchicine and cytochalasin B) the cytoskeleton altered the development and recovery from Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation, indicating that the neuronal cytoskeleton may mediate Ca2+ channel sensitivity to intracellular Ca2+. Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation was not associated with a particular subset of Ca2+ channels, suggesting that all Ca2+ channels in these neurons are inactivated by intracellular Ca2+.
Sterols of Selected Species of Oomycetes and Hyphochytridiomycetes

The sterols often species of Oomycetes and two ofHyphochytridiomycetes were analyzed following normal growth. Some of the fungi were also grown on a lanosterol or cycloartenol supplement. The sterol content of most species examined was similar to those found by other investigators, except that sterols of the ergostane series were also observed. A new sterol was detected in one species. In general, the organisms showed a preference for cycloartenol rather than lanosterol utilization. This preference is discussed as a potential tool for delineation of phylogenetic relationships. Lagenidium giganteum Couch, a parasite of mosquito larvae, is unable to synthesize sterols because it cannot incorporate sterol precursors prior to mevalonic acid. Investigations of the sterol deficiency of this mosquito pathogen established a preference for cycloartenol rather than lanosterol utilization (Warner and Domnas, 1981). Similarly, members of the Peronosporales, which are unable to produce sterols because they cannot synthesize 2,3 oxidosqualene (Wood and Gottlieb, 1978), showed a preference for cycloartenol, although they could also metabolize lanosterol (Warner, Eierman et al., 1982). The metabolism of cycloartenol, lanosterol, and fucosterol resulted in production of cholesterol in the Peronosporales, with ergost-5-enol, ergost-7-enol, desmosterol, and cholestanol also present. Because of these findings, it was of interest to study several other representative members of the Oomycetes and Hyphochytridiomycetes to determine if a pattern for cycloartenol- over a lanosterol-based metabolism existed. A hint of this probability was first noted by Bu'Lock and Osagie (1976), when they reported transformation of radiolabelled cycloartenol to other sterols in Saprolegniaferax (Gruith.) Thuret. This report presents the results of our investigations of the sterols present in twelve species of oomycete and hyphochytridiomycete fungi, as well as the nature of sterol composition following cycloartenol and/or lanosterol administration.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ASSERTIVENESS, MACHIAVELLIANISM, AND INTERVIEWING SUCCESS IN A SCREENING INTERVIEW

Interviewing success was hypothesized to be a function of the interviewee's assertiveness and Machiavellianism. 122 undergraduate business and psychology students conducted mock screening interviews in a laboratory setting. Assertiveness was associated with interviewing success. Neither the interviewers' nor the interviewees' Machiavellianism scores were related to outcomes. The results were independent of subjects' gender and race.
Reaction of Human Cd7metallothionein and N-Ethylmaleimide: Kinetic and Structural Insights from Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

The reaction of cadmium-binding human metallothionein-2A (Cd7MT) and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) is investigated by electrospray ionization-ion mobility-mass spectrometry (ESI IM-MS). MS provides a direct measure of the distribution of the kinetic intermediates as the reaction proceeds and provides new insights into the relative kinetic stability of the individual metal–thiolate bonds in Cd7MT. The rate constants for the various metal-retaining intermediates (Cdi, intermediate with i Cd2+ ions attached) differ by >3 orders of magnitude: Cd4 ≪ Cd3 < Cd2 < Cd1 ∼ Cd6 < Cd7 < Cd5. The reaction is viewed as a two-component cooperative process, rapid loss of three Cd2+ ions followed by slow loss of the remaining four Cd2+ ions, and Cd4NEM10MT was observed as the least reactive intermediate during the entire displacement process. “MS-CID-IM-MS”, a top-down approach that provides two-dimensional dispersion (size to charge by IM; mass to charge by MS) of the CID fragment ions, was used for direct analysis of the kineti...
Renal function changes after fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair

Objective Limited data exist regarding the effect of fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (fEVAR) on renal function. We performed a comprehensive analysis of acute and chronic renal function changes in patients after fEVAR. Methods This study included patients undergoing fEVAR at two institutions between September 2012 and March 2015. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula with serum creatinine levels obtained during the study period. Acute and chronic renal dysfunction was assessed using the RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-stage renal disease) criteria and the chronic kidney disease (CKD) staging system, respectively. Results fEVAR was performed in 110 patients for juxtarenal or paravisceral aortic aneurysms, with a mean follow-up of 11.7 months. A total of 206 renal stents were placed, with a mean aneurysm size of 62.9 mm (range, 45-105 mm) and a mean neck length of 4.1 mm. Primary renal stent patency was 97.1% at the latest follow-up. Moderate kidney disease (CKD stage ≥ 3) was present in 51% of patients at baseline, with a mean preoperative glomerular filtration rate of 60.0 ± 19.6 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Acute kidney injury occurred in 25 patients (22.7%), although 15 of these (60%) were classified as having mild dysfunction. During follow-up, 59 patients (73.7%) were found to have no change or improved renal disease by CKD staging, and 19 (23.7%) had a CKD increase of one stage. Two patients were noted to have end-stage renal failure requiring hemodialysis. Clinically significant renal dysfunction was noted in 21 patients (26.2%) at the latest follow-up. Freedom from renal decline at 1 year was 76.1% (95% confidence interval, 63.2%-85.0%). Surrogate markers for higher operative complexity, including operating time ( P = .001), fluoroscopy time ( P P = .017), and blood loss ( P = .002), served as dependent risk factors for acute kidney injury, although though no independent predictors were identified. Age ( P = .008) was an independent risk factor for long-term decline, whereas paradoxically, baseline kidney disease ( P = .032) and longer operative times ( P = .014) were protective of future renal dysfunction. Conclusions Acute and chronic renal dysfunction both occur in approximately one-quarter of patients after fEVAR; however, most of these cases are classified as mild according to consensus definitions of renal injury. The presence of mild or moderate baseline kidney disease should not preclude endovascular repair in the juxtarenal population. Routine biochemical analysis and branch vessel surveillance remain important aspects of clinical follow-up for patients undergoing fEVAR.
Glucocorticoids and TNFα Interact Cooperatively to Mediate Sepsis-Induced Leucine Resistance in Skeletal Muscle

Sepsis blunts the ability of nutrient signaling by leucine to stimulate skeletal muscle protein synthesis by impairing translation initiation. The present study tested the hypothesis that overproduction of either tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α or glucocorticoids mediate the sepsis-induced leucine resistance. Prior to producing peritonitis, rats received either vehicle, TNF binding protein (TNFBP) to inhibit endogenous TNFα action, and/or the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486. Leucine was orally administered to all rats 24 h thereafter and the gastrocnemius removed 20 min later to assess protein synthesis and signaling components important in controlling peptide-chain initiation. Muscle protein synthesis was 65% lower in septic rats administered leucine than in leucine-treated control animals. This reduction was not prevented by either TNFBP or RU486 alone, but was completely reversed by the combination. This sepsis-induced leucine resistance was associated with an 80% reduction in the amount of active eIF4E·eIF4G complex, a 5-fold increase in the formation of the inactive eIF4E·4E-BP1 complex as well as markedly reduced (at least 70%) phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, eIF4G, S6K1, S6, and mTOR. Pretreatment of septic rats with either TNFBP or RU486 individually only nominally improved the leucine action as assessed by the above-mentioned endpoints. In contrast, when TNFBP and RU486 were co-administered, the ability of sepsis to impair the leucine-stimulated phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, eIF4G, S6K1, and S6 as well as the redistribution of eIF4E was essentially prevented. No differences in the total amount or phosphorylation of eIF2α and eIF2Be were detected between the different groups, and changes could not be attributed to differences in the prevailing plasma concentration of insulin or leucine. Our data demonstrate the sepsis-induced leucine resistance in skeletal muscle results from the cooperative interaction of both TNFα and glucocorticoids.
Introduction: Managing the Korean Conflict

In the early 1990s, for the first time since the Korean War (and particularly in the wake of German reunification), it became common to hear and even faddish to assert that the issue of Korean reunification by Southern absorption was no longer a question of “whether” but of “how and when.” And yet to think about Korean reunification today is to encounter a paradox. At no time since the end of World War II, when Korea was liberated and divided, has the prospect of Korean reunification perhaps seemed closer, yet never has the time horizon been so uncertain or extended. Fifteen years after the end of the Cold War, reunification no longer seems imminent, but the aspiration retains an aura of inevitability.
Promoting Positive Family Interactions: Evaluating a Free Early Childhood Book Distribution Program

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) program encourages reading among families of preschool children by mailing age-appropriate books, once per month, until the child reaches the age of five. An evaluation of a DPIL program in a southern state in the U.S. was conducted to assess the impact on enrolled children. Focus groups were conducted and a survey was administered to over 100 parents of children in the program to determine parents’ satisfaction with–and assessment of–the program relative to its activities and stated outcomes. To what extent the program promoted reading in the family, and children’s enjoyment of reading and school readiness was explored. In addition, family communication styles and relationships were assessed relative to these outcomes. The parents reported that the program introduced more diverse reading choices, fostered their children’s love of reading, promoted cognitive development and readiness for school, increased use of public libraries, and encouraged family interaction. Some differences in reading activities based on family communication styles were found. As well, parents provided recommendations for outreaching to underserved children. Implications of these findings for groups that sponsor this program and for further research are presented.
Prospective Comparison of Reduced-Iodine-Dose Virtual Monochromatic Imaging Dataset From Dual-Energy CT Angiography With Standard-Iodine-Dose Single-Energy CT Angiography for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare the image quality of reduced-iodine-dose single-source dual-energy CT angiography (CTA) with that of standard-iodine-dose single-energy CTA in examinations of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and to assess the effect of the concentration of iodinated contrast medium on intravascular enhancement and image quality of reduced-iodine-dose CTA. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. In a prospective randomized clinical trial, 66 consecutively registered patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm who had previously undergone single-energy CTA (30–37 g I) underwent follow-up CTA at a reduced dose (21–27 g I) of iodinated contrast medium of either 270 mg I/mL (n = 33) or 320 mg I/mL (n = 33). Two readers independently evaluated virtual monochromatic imaging datasets (40–140 keV) and single-energy CTA images for image quality and noise and their preference for optimal energy virtual monochromatic imaging dataset. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. R...
Initial Management of Carcinoma of the Breast with Radiation Therapy Instead of Mastectomy

Cancer of the breast remains the most common form of cancer in women in the United States, with an estimated 100,000 new cases and 34,000 deaths in 1979. It is also undoubtedly the most controversial malignancy in terms of its manage­ment. Historically, attempts to improve the cure rate of this disease have focused on different approaches to local therapy, such as performing a more extensive operation or adding radiation to inaccessible lymph nodes. These attempts have been based on the notion that breast cancer begins as a single focus and spreads in an orderly fashion to regional lymph nodes before it disseminates to distant sites.
Drug Use and Abuse as Primary Motivators for Involvement in Burglary: A Comparison of Self-Reported Differences Among a Random Sample of Male and Female Burglars

This study explores substance use as a primary motivator of persistent involvement in burglary among male and female burglars. A self-administered survey instrument was disseminated to a random sam...
Computational simulation of threshold displacement energies of GaAs

Classical molecular dynamics (MD), along with a bond-order potential for GaAs, has been used to study threshold displacement energies (Ed) of Ga and As recoils. Considering the crystallographic symmetry of GaAs, recoil events are confined in four unit stereographic triangles. To investigate the displacement energy’s dependence on crystallographic orientation, more than 3600 recoil events were simulated to uniformly sample values of Ed. Various defect configurations produced at these low energy recoils and the separation distances of Frenkel pairs were quantified and outlined. For both Ga and As, the minimum, $E_{\rm{d}}^{{\rm{min}}}$ , is found to be 8 eV, but the maxima, $E_{\rm{d}}^{{\rm{max}}}$ , are 22 and 28 eV for Ga and As, respectively. The distribution of Ed within unit stereographic triangles indicates that Ed shows a weak dependence on the recoil directions, in contrast to other semiconductors. The average threshold displacement energy is 13 ± 1 eV, which is in excellent agreement with available experiments.
Motivation for obesity prevention among adolescents in low-income communities in three U.S. states

Adolescence obesity is one of the public health concerns that contribute to health disparities in the United States. Low-income communities are disproportionately impacted due to socioeconomic, env...
Quantifying Seasonal Patterns in Disparate Environmental Variables Using the PolarMetrics R Package

Certain environmental processes, while influential, are inherently difficult to quantify and detect using traditional time series analyses, particularly among variables with different seasonal progressions. Disturbances that only manifest in part of a season (e.g., spring defoliation) or subtle climate shifts can pose detection challenges when they occur in the presence of other variability. Increasing sampling rates or even adding new sensors may not reveal the anticipated patterns. Eddy covariance tower data are a useful example for which various environmental drivers influence the overall signal, contributing noise and seemingly discordant variation. While eddy flux data are a rich representation of information, distinguishing expected seasonal responses within a signal can be challenging, especially where drivers may have either fast or lagged responses. A conventional solution might be to analyze and effectively smooth the data over daily to monthly intervals. However, such smoothed data will not exhibit the same variance, and subsequent regressions may not isolate relationships and anomalies to specific seasons. This paper introduces and demonstrates the use of a newly developed R software package, PolarMetrics, which is used to analyze 20 years of data from one AmeriFlux tower using a polar (circular) approach that reduces data volume to a smaller set of derived seasonal timing and magnitude metrics. Polar metrics quantify the annual cycle of input variables, and permit direct comparison of the strength and timing of seasonality. While performing the analysis over all years produces a synoptic result, analyzing year-by-year characterizes interannual variability.
THE ROLE OF MATRIX TABLET IN DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

Matrix tablet is an important tool for controlled and sustained release dosage forms. The oral route remains the most common route for the administration of drugs. Tablets offer the lowest cost approach to sustained and controlled release dosage forms. The hydrophilic polymer matrix is widely used in this dosage form. The use of different polymers in controlling the release of drugs has become the most important tool in the formulation of matrix tablets. The drug releases by both dissolution-controlled as well as diffusion-controlled mechanisms from the matrix. The development of oral controlled release systems has been a challenge to formulation scientists due to their inability to restrain and localize the system at targeted areas of the gastrointestinal tract. There are several advantages of matrix devices including improved patient compliance due to less frequent drug administration, reduction of fluctuation in steady-state drug levels, maximum utilization of the drug, increased safety margin of a potent drug. This review aims on the discussion of different materials used to prepare matrix tablets, different types of matrix tablets and the drug release mechanism from the matrices.