cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantization noise in sigma-delta modulations driven by deterministic inputs

The authors consider the asymptotic statistics of quantization error sequences that arise in oversampling sigma-delta modulators driven by time-varying deterministic inputs. For a wide class of such inputs, the ergodic theory of maps of the torus provides not only a mechanism for proving that such statistics exist but also appealing closed-form representations for them. Among the cases discussed are standard single- and two-stage modulators driven by sampled periodic inputs and the constant-input behavior of two-stage modulators in which one of the discrete-time integrators has nonzero leakage. >
Corridors for Robot Team Navigation

In previous work, we proposed the use of virtual corridors to move a group of agents (animals) from one location to another. Using virtual fence technology, we can create a corridor froma set of fences to generate the desired gross motion of the herd without overspecifying paths for the animals. This allows us to reduce the amount of stimulus given to the animals while allowing them to naturally avoid obstacles (or other agents) without having to consider them during planning. In addition, a single corridor can be used by the entire group, simplifying planning and requiring only limited communication. In this work, we have implemented virtual corridors for robot team navigation, both in simulation and on two Pioneer mobile robots, and performed a number of experiments with two aims in mind. First, we wish to determine if, and under what circumstances, corridors are a practical solution to navigation by a team of robots. Secondly, by investigating different underlying motion algorithms for the robots, we may be able to suggest how successful corridors can be for different systems (including animals). We show success in open environments over a variety of experiments, with varying efficiency from the different motion models, and partial success among complex obstacles and with teams of up to five robots using a single corridor simultaneously.
Regime Change and Ethnic Cleavages in Africa

This article explores a hitherto overlooked consequence of regime change in Africa. It shows how the shift from one-party to multiparty rule in the region altered the kinds of ethnic cleavages that structure political competition and conflict. The article demonstrates how the different strategic logics of political competition in one-party and multiparty settings create incentives for political actors to emphasize different kinds of ethnic identities: locallevel identities (usually revolving around tribe or clan) in one-party elections and broader scale identities (usually revolving around region, language, or religion) in multiparty elections. The argument is illustrated with evidence from the 1991 and 1992 regime transitions in Zambia and Kenya.
Loop-synchronous polarization scrambling technique for simulating polarization effects using recirculating fiber loops

A loop-synchronous polarization-scrambling technique has been proposed for the purpose of simulating polarization effects in straight-line systems using recirculating loops. This technique uses a fast polarization controller within a fiber loop. The polarization controller changes its transmission matrix after each round trip of the optical signal circulating through the loop; thus, the periodic polarization transform of the loop is avoided. Moreover, the polarization controller generates a series of random uncorrelated transmission matrixes. Therefore, the mean-square value of differential group delay (DGD) or polarization-dependent loss (PDL) increases linearly with the number of circulations. The matrix expression for a random polarization transform that scatters the state of polarization (SOP) uniformly on the Poincare sphere for any input SOP was also found. Experiments were performed for a 94-km fiber loop that contains a fixed DGD or PDL element. The histograms of polarisation mode dispersion (PMD) induced power penalties at 10/sup -9/ bit error rate (BER) were measured. There is a good agreement between experimental and theoretical results. Using loop-synchronous polarization scrambling, accurate reproduction of the Maxwellian distribution of DGD can be realized when the background PMD of transmission fiber is much smaller than the PMD intentionally introduced into the loop.
Simple life-history traits explain key effective population size ratios across diverse taxa

Effective population size (Ne) controls both the rate of random genetic drift and the effectiveness of selection and migration, but it is difficult to estimate in nature. In particular, for species...
Disruption in Bruch membrane in patients with Stargardt disease.

Purpose: To describe the spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings of two patients with complete defects in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with disruptions in Bruch membrane in Stargardt disease (STGD1).Methods: Two patients with STGD1 were referred to our clinic for further evaluation. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), electroretinography (ERG) and Microperimetry (MP-1) were performed to assess the retinal anatomy and function. Screening for mutations in the ABCA4 gene was carried out and detected mutations were confirmed by direct sequencing.Results: Both patients had bilateral macular geographic atrophy (GA) and yellowish subretinal pisciform flecks and mutations were detected in the ABCA4 gene by chip screening. SD-OCT revealed marked atrophy of the retina in the central macula, with focal defects in the RPE with disruptions in Bruch membrane and herniation of the retina through the defect in three of four eyes.Conclusion: ...
The transition from custom-made to standardized multibranched thoracoabdominal aortic stent grafts

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the branch morphology and short-term outcome of endovascular aneurysm repair using multibranched thoracoabdominal custom-made stent grafts (CSGs) vs standard stent grafts (SSGs). Methods Data on patient demographics, aortic morphology, component use, and outcome were collected prospectively. Final branch length (cuff to target artery orifice) and branch angle (cuff orientation to target artery orientation) were determined using 3-D reconstruction of computed tomographic angiograms (CTAs). Results Between January 2008 and March 2010, 28 patients underwent endovascular aneurysm repair using 14 CSGs and 14 SSGs. Two patients were excluded from analysis: one patient in the CSG group had yet to undergo CTA, and one patient in the SSG group had crossed renal branches due to problems traversing a previously reconstructed aortic arch. All the stent grafts were implanted successfully. There were no perioperative deaths. There were no statistically significant differences between the CSG (n = 13) and SSG (n = 13) groups in terms of patient age (74.4 ± 7.9 years vs 73.5 ± 6.0 years), aneurysm diameter (66.1 ± 9.0 mm vs 71.2 ± 9.0 mm), operative time (311 ± 94 minutes vs 286 ± 57 minutes), fluoroscopy time (108 ± 43 minutes vs 101 ± 30 minutes), contrast volume (98 ± 39 minutes vs 91 ± 27 minutes), blood loss (458 ± 205 mL vs 433 ± 193 mL), mean branch angle (22.8 ± 19.0 degrees vs 22.0 ± 17.6 degrees), or branch length (25.3 ± 12.1 mm vs 23.4 ± 10.2 mm). Conclusion The substitution of SSG for CSG had no effect on the complexity of the procedure, the branch morphology, or the perioperative outcome. The availability of an off-the-shelf SSG will broaden the application of endovascular thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair by eliminating manufacturing delays.
The Impact of FIN 48 and Economic Nexus on Multistate Tax Settlements

This study examines whether the adoption and enactment of Financial Interpretation No. 48 (hereafter “the FIN 48 period”) and the extension of nexus to include economic nexus rather than only physical presence impacts the number of settlements and the dollar amounts of settlements using data from the National Nexus Program (NNP) of the Multistate Tax Commission. The NNP provides a unique setting for public and private firms to voluntarily settle both income and sales and use tax liabilities. Using a panel from 1994 to 2008, I find that the FIN 48 period is associated with a 44 percent increase in the number of NNP settlements for the average stateyear when nexus is defined as physical presence. For the average state-year where nexus is defined as economic nexus, the FIN 48 period is associated with a 137 percent increase in the number of settlements. However, the FIN 48 period and economic nexus have no overall impact on the dollar amount of settlement in the NNP. Further analysis reveals that the combination of the FIN 48 period and economic nexus is associated with a larger number of settlements for private firms and a larger average dollar amount of settlement for public firms.
Cathelicidins, essential gene-encoded mammalian antibiotics

Cathelicidins are a class of gene-encoded antibiotics found exclusively in mammals. In vitro and in vivo studies indicate they are effector molecules of mammalian innate immunity that can provide a first line of defense against an array of micro-organisms. Additional functions are described for some members of this class of antimicrobial peptides including chemotactic activity, mitogenesis, and angiogenesis. Therefore these peptides are considered to be multifunctional effector molecules. This review discusses recent progress in cathelicidin research and the functional properties of cathelicidins. Current work in this field suggests that understanding this component of the mammalian innate immune system and related natural antibiotic peptides offer an opportunity for the development of novel therapeutic agents with which to battle the continued problem of antimicrobial resistance.
Signal Processing for Semiconductor Detectors

This is a tutorial paper designed to provide a balanced perspective on the processing of signals produced by semiconductor detectors. The general problems of pulse shaping to optimize resolution with constraints imposed by noise, counting rate and rise time fluctuations are discussed.
A structure-oriented method for generating good assembly sequence plans

An assembly sequence planner is a system which, given a description of an assembly to be manufactured, identifies subassemblies and generates high-level plans for the construction of each subassembly, including the final assembly. This paper describes a new version of a planner which views the product as a hierarchy of structure elements, and plans by recursively merging plans for substructures. The structure hierarchy enables the planner to capture structure-specific expert advice and reuse subplans for repeated substructures. Analytical and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
Erythematous Plaque to Lower Leg After Tropical Injury.

A 70-year-old retired nurse presented with a 3-month history of an asymptomatic, nonhealing lesion of her left leg. It developed after she fell and scraped this specific location on her leg on a creek rock while hiking in the jungle during a vacation in Ecuador. She denies any other trauma at any time between the scraping and presentation. After the fall, she subsequently developed an enlarging erythematous plaque with an overlying hemorrhagic crust without drainage. This crust sloughed but soon thereafter reformed. She was treated with triple antibiotic ointment, an antifungal cream, and one week of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prior to presenting to her dermatologist. She was otherwise asymptomatic with a negative review of systems. Past medical history included hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hypothyroidism, and her medications were levothyroxine, lovastatin, atenolol, and sodium bicarbonate. She was born in the United States and had not spent any significant time outside the country before this episode. Examination revealed a 2 cm erythematous crusted plaque with several smaller satellite papules on the left shin at the site of trauma (Figure ​(Figure1A).1A). A punch biopsy (Figure ​(Figure1B1B and C) and tissue culture were performed. What is the diagnosis? Figure 1. (A) Erythematous eroded plaque with satellite papules on left shin. (B) A 40× magnification demonstrating granulomatous infiltrate. (C) A 100× magnification demonstrating a dermal granuloma with caseous necrosis.
The Distribution of Angiotensinogen in Dog Brain Studied by Cell Fractionation

Cerebrospinal fluid contains angiotensinogen; however, its origin and role are not known. The possibility that brain cells contain angiotensinogen in granules was examined by cell fractionation. Subcellular fractions of midbrain and forebrain of dogs generated angiotensin I over a period of 60 min when incubated with renin at 37 C, pH 7.4. The results for midbrain and forebrain were virtually identical. The highest specific concentration of angiotensinogen was in the soluble fraction. Some angiotensinogen was present in granule fractions, but it was shown by isopycnic gradient centrifugation and in control experiments using 125I-labeled human serum albumin and an 125I-labeled preparation of dog angiotensinogen that this could be accounted for entirely by soluble contaminant and nonspecific uptake by granules, probably lysosomes, during the fractionation procedure. The concentration in whole tissue was ca. 45 pmol/g tissue and calculations based on the concentration in cerebrospinal fluid suggest that all ...
Exhaled Nitric Oxide Decreases during Academic Examination Stress in Asthma.

Rationale: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is known to vary with multiple endogenous and exogenous factors. Laboratory stress and depressive mood have been associated with altered FeNO levels, but little is known about the susceptibility of FeNO to longer-lasting states of psychological stress in asthma.Objectives: We sought to study changes in FeNO, lung function, and endogenous cortisol levels in students in a low-stress period during the academic term and in high-stress periods of up to 5 days during final exams.Methods: One hundred nine participants (35 with asthma) enrolled in a final examination stress study were assessed during the academic term (low stress) and during final exams (high stress). FeNO, spirometric lung function (FEV1, peak flow), salivary cortisol, and negative affect were measured at three time points. Control variables were medication use, cold symptoms, sex, and age.Measurements and Main Results: FeNO decreased substantially from low-stress baseline to the high-stress exam...
Genetic and epigenetic transgenerational implications related to omega-3 fatty acids. Part II: maternal FADS2 rs174575 genotype and DNA methylation predict toddler cognitive performance

Maternal transfer of fatty acids is important to fetal brain development. The prenatal environment may differentially affect the substrates supporting declarative memory abilities, as the level of fatty acids transferred across the placenta may be affected by the maternal fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2) rs174575 single nucleotide polymorphism. In this study, we hypothesized that toddler and maternal rs174575 genotype and FADS2 promoter methylation would be related to the toddlers' declarative memory performance. Seventy-one 16-month-old toddlers participated in an imitation paradigm designed to test immediate and long-term declarative memory abilities. FADS2 rs174575 genotype was determined and FADS2 promoter methylation was quantified from blood by bisulfite pyrosequencing for the toddlers and their natural mothers. Toddlers of GG mothers at the FADS2 rs174575 single nucleotide polymorphism did not perform as well on memory assessments as toddlers of CC or CG mothers when controlling for plasma α-linolenic acid and child genotype. Toddler methylation status was related to immediate memory performance, whereas maternal methylation status was related to delayed memory performance. Thus, prenatal experience and maternal FADS2 status have a pervasive, long-lasting influence on the brain development of the offspring, but as the postnatal environment becomes more primary, the offsprings' own biology begins to have an effect.
Androgen deficiency in women; role of accurate testosterone measurements

Androgen deficiency in women has been recognized as a distinct clinical syndrome that affects thousands of women particularly women in the postmenopausal period of their life. This syndrome has been described by several names including female androgen deficiency syndrome as well as hypoactive, sexual desire disorder. A recent large survey concerning sexual problems in women also adds personal distress as a potential contributor to the low sexual desire found in some women with sexual dysfunction. Recognition of an androgen deficiency syndrome however, has been controversial and limited to a clinical diagnosis due to the lack of accurate and sensitive methods for measuring androgens in women. Up until now, available methods for measuring the sex steroids have been dependent on antibody based assays that employ a range of different detection systems including the use of isotopes such as tritium and I-125 or chemical signalling molecules that produce chemiluminescence. These assays have become increasingly more sensitive for the measurement of testosterone but are still incapable of providing the proper low-end sensitivity for analyzing testosterone in female blood specimens. Assays for testosterone performed either manually or with highly automated immunoassay instruments have been used to measure testosterone in women but with varying degrees of success. Existing immunoassay-based methods are quite adequate for measuring testosterone levels in males but lack sufficient sensitivity to accurately and reproducibly measure testosterone in females and pre-pubertal children. Recent advances with the use of ultrasensitive methods such as mass spectrometry coupled to either gas or liquid chromatography have improved the technology for measuring testosterone and other low concentration sex steroids like estradiol to the degree that mass spectrometry based methods are now capable of measuring the testosterone levels found in normal women and in women with extremely low levels of testosterone as observed in a true androgen deficiency disorder. This application of mass spectrometry for measuring testosterone should allow clinicians to better define female androgen deficiency and facilitate further investigation in the diagnosis and optimal management of androgen deficiency in women.
Psychological Essentialism of Human Categories

Psychological essentialism is an ordinary mode of category representation that has powerful social-psychological consequences. This article reviews those consequences, with a focus on the distinctive ways people perceive, evaluate, and interact with members of human categories they essentialize. Why and when people engage in this mode of thinking remain open questions. Variability in essentialism across cultures, categories, and contexts suggests that this mode of representing human categories is rooted in a naturalistic theory of category origins, combined with a need to explain differences that cross category boundaries.
Explaining the Impact of Network Transport Protocols on SIP Proxy Performance

This paper characterizes the impact that the use of UDP versus TCP has on the performance and scalability of the OpenSER SIP proxy server. The session initiation protocol (SIP) is an application-layer signaling protocol that is widely used for establishing voice-over-IP (VoIP) phone calls. SIP can utilize a variety of transport protocols, including UDP and TCP. Despite the advantages of TCP, such as reliable delivery and congestion control, the common practice is to use UDP. This is a result of the belief that UDP's lower processor and network overhead results in improved performance and scalability of SIP services. This paper argues against this conventional wisdom. This paper shows that the principal reasons for OpenSER's poor performance using TCP are caused by the server's design, and not the low-level performance of UDP versus TCP. Specifically, OpenSER's architecture for handling concurrent calls is responsible for most of the difference. Moreover, once these issues are addressed, OpenSER's performance using TCP is much more competitive with its performance using UDP.
Energy scenarios for Southeast Asia

Abstract This paper describes energy scenarios for the 10 member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the different possible development pathways that they enable. Based on these scenarios and a case study of Indonesia, we develop a set of ASEAN meta-scenarios and discuss their policy implications, illustrating the alternative pathways to resolving conflicts between traditional and more sustainable development. While most ASEAN countries are pursuing policies aimed at addressing constraints stemming from the potential impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and the cost and availability of imported oil, we find that there is a significant variation in the level of flexibility and resilience inherent in the scenario pathways that they are following. The most developed and least developed of the ASEAN member nations appear to be on policy paths aimed at maximizing their flexibility and resilience, while some rapidly growing economies appear to be moving along less flexible and resilient paths.
Familial Forms of Renal Cell Carcinoma and Associated Syndromes

In this chapter, we review the known heritable syndromes that predispose to familial renal cell carcinoma (FRCC). FRCC encompasses a heterogeneous group of disorders that are predominantly inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, though with variable penetrance. As such, patients affected by FRCC have a 50 % chance of passing on this predisposition to each offspring. Many FRCC disorders have extrarenal manifestations, and these can be cutaneous (as in Birt-Hogg-Dube, hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma, or tuberous sclerosis) or may involve other organs such as the central nervous system or endocrine glands (as in von Hippel-Lindau disease). Importantly, while many FRCC syndromes confer a risk of renal cell carcinoma and of extrarenal manifestations, not all patients with FRCC mutations develop renal neoplasia, and the extrarenal syndromic manifestations may present quite variably even among individuals within the same affected family. The genotype/phenotype correlations are not clearly delineated for each syndrome, and individuals positive for specific FRCC mutations should be closely screened and followed for all the known manifestations of the associated syndrome unless it is known which particular manifestations are not associated with the specific mutation.
Clustering affine subspaces: hardness and algorithms

@We also prove nearly matching hardness results; in both the general (not necessarily axis-parallel) case (for k ≥ 2) and in the axis-parallel case (for k ≥ 3), the running time of an approximation algorithm with any approximation ratio cannot be polynomial in even one of k and Δ, unless P = NP. Furthermore, assuming that the 3-SAT problem cannot be solved subexponentially the dependence on both k and Δ must be exponential in the general case (in the axis-parallel case, only the dependence on k drops to 2Ω(√k)). The simplicity of the first and the third algorithm suggests that they might be actually used in statistical applications. The second algorithm, which demonstrates a theoretical gap between the axis-parallel and general case for k = 2, displays a strong connection between geometric clustering and classical coloring problems on graphs and hypergraphs, via a new Helly-type theorem.
Turtles outsmart rapid environmental change: The role of cognition in navigation

Animals inhabiting changing environments show high levels of cognitive plasticity. Cognition may be a means by which animals buffer the impact of environmental change. However, studies examining the evolution of cognition seldom compare populations where change is rapid and selection pressures are strong. We investigated this phenomenon by radiotracking experienced and naive Eastern painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) as they sought new habitats when their pond was drained. Resident adults repeatedly used specific routes to permanent water sources with exceptional precision, while adults translocated to the site did not. Naive 1-3 y olds from both populations used the paths taken by resident adults, an ability lost by age 4. Experience did not, however, influence the timing of movement or the latency to begin navigation. This suggests that learning during a critical period may be important for how animals respond to changing environments, highlighting the importance of incorporating cognition into conservation.
Super Columbine Massacre RPG! and Grand Theft Autoethnography:

Here, I use autoethnography, media accounts, and work in sociology to consider the popular video game series Grand Theft Auto (GTA), its abstraction of violence and social relations, and the formation of my Self. I also consider the video game Super Columbine Massacre RPG! (or Role Playing Game) as a deconstruction of cause and effect arguments concerning links between video game violence and real-world violence. I consider such games as sites for ideological reproduction, particularly of sexism, racism, and homophobia, as well as for critical thinking about the social worlds we want.
THE CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS METABOLISM IN OSSIFYING FIBROMA OF THE MANDIBLE

In the case of ossifying fibroma of the mandible reported, the calcium and phosphorus metabolism was found to be normal. There was no increase in the phosphatase activity of the serum.
Setting and Optimization of Bypass System in Condensate Polishing

In view to the setting of bypass system in condensate polishing in thermal power units,and problems in bypass system in condensate polishing,this article points out the drawbacks in conventional system transformation,morks out more reasonable optimization program. And also it provides reference experience to avoid future similar incidents in condensate polishing,ensuring the correct settings for bypass system,and safe and stable operation of the units.
A Monte Carlo simulation flow for SEU analysis of sequential circuits

An efficient methodology for soft error analysis of sequential circuits based on Monte Carlo sampling is proposed. It uses nested sampling for faster statistical convergence: it samples only from the workload space and statically evaluates the conditional probability over the subspace of particle strike and circuit parameters. A novel check on the stationarity of machine state sequence to reduce the number of samples to convergence is introduced. The flow combines logic simulation for latch-level error propagation and stationarity diagnostic and an improved combinational error simulator with a new masking model based on signal controllability. Experiments show that nested sampling reduces the number of samples by up to 1500X and runtime by up to 25X compared to direct sampling. Stationarity checking allows reducing sampling number by 25%, on average. The new latching window model permits accuracy of within 1% from SPICE, compared to a 12% error with a prior model.
Cost analysis in the diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND The present treatment regimen for a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis involves a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy along with other adjunctive therapy. The decision to start treatment is made after diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis, which is based on subjective symptoms. The working hypothesis of this study is that the diagnosis based on subjective symptoms is inaccurate, leading to inappropriate antibiotic therapy and unnecessary health care expense. METHODS One hundred patients were evaluated prospectively to determine which patients qualified for this study. Seventy-eight patients satisfied current criteria for a diagnosis of rhinosinusitis. RESULTS Fifty-three percent (41 patients) of the 78 patients did not have a diagnosis of chronic sinusitis based on same-day computed tomography (CT) scanning. A charge analysis comparing treatment after diagnosis with medical therapy alone and CT scan for failures versus CT scanning with medical treatment for positive scans was performed. Although the most economical method of treatment was initiating medical therapy, it was also the least sensitive and specific in that 52% of patients didn't require the treatment. Endoscopy and/or CT screening with medical therapy were much better at appropriate diagnosis and targeted therapy but charge analysis indicated a much higher cost. CONCLUSION Presently, the current subjective diagnostic paradigm for chronic rhinosinusitis is most cost-effective but least accurate. Objective evaluations (endoscopy and CT scanning) to aid in diagnosis are more accurate but more costly. Where cost constraints are important, careful considerations of alternatives are important.
Gaus, Hayek, and the place of civil religion in a free society

In The Order of Public Reason, Gerald Gaus uses Hayekian insights to give a contractarian justification for the specific social rules the rules that comprise the social order of a free people. But in doing so, Gaus inadvertently endorses a kind of skepticism about our ability to justify the institutions that comprise our social order as a whole. The disadvantage of a political theory so pervasively skeptical is that, while contractors can arrive at a series of specific solutions to their social problems, they have no way to assure themselves that their moral nature and their moral practices as a whole are sufficiently sound that the rules they endorse are genuinely morally binding. I argue that this problem can be solved in political practice through the adoption of a civil religion. Civil religions provide narratives and social practices that assure members of free orders that their regimes are good or justified on the whole. In this way, we can introduce the idea of civil religion into contractarian political theory as a social technology for sustaining a free social order.
Transient Proteotoxicity of Bacterial Virulence Factor Pyocyanin in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells Induces ER-Related Vacuolation and Can Be Efficiently Modulated by Iron Chelators

Persistent infections of biofilm forming bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are common among human populations, due to the bacterial resistance to antibiotics and other adaptation strategies, including release of cytotoxic virulent factors such as pigment pyocyanin (PCN). Urinary tract infections harbor P. aeruginosa strains characterized by the highest PCN-producing capacity, yet no information is available on PCN cytotoxicity mechanism in kidney. We report here that renal tubular epithelial cell (RTEC) line NRK-52E responds to PCN treatments with paraptosis-like activity features. Specifically, PCN-treated cells experienced dilation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and an extensive development of ER-derived vacuoles after about 8 h. This process was accompanied with hyper-activation of proteotoxic stress-inducible transcription factors Nrf2, ATF6, and HSF-1. The cells could be rescued by withdrawal of PCN from the culture media before the vacuoles burst and cells die of non-programmed necrosis after about 24-30 h. The paraptosis-like activity was abrogated by co-treatment of the cells with metal-chelating antioxidants. A microscopic examination of cells co-treated with PCN and agents aiming at a variety of the cellular stress mediators and pathways have identified iron as a single most significant co-factor of the PCN cytotoxicity in the RTECs. Among biologically relevant metal ions, low micromolar Fe2+ specifically mediated anaerobic oxidation of glutathione by PCN, but catechol derivatives and other strong iron complexing agents could inhibit the reaction. Our data suggest that iron chelation could be considered as a supplementary treatment in the PCN-positive infections.
Energy conservation goals: What people adopt, what they recommend, and why

Failures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by adopting policies, technologies, and lifestyle changes have led the world to the brink of crisis, or likely beyond. Here we use Internet surveys to attempt to understand these failures by studying factors that affect the adoption of personal energy conservation behaviors and also endorsement of energy conservation goals proposed for others. We demonstrate an asymmetry between goals for self and others (â€œIâ€™ll do the easy thing, you do the hard thingâ€ ), but we show that this asymmetry is partly produced by actor/observer differences: people know what they do already (and generally do not propose those actions as personal goals) and also know their own situational constraints that are barriers to action. We also show, however, that endorsement of conservation goals decreases steeply as a function of perceived difficulty; this suggests a role for motivated cognition as a barrier to conservation: difficult things are perceived as less applicable to oneâ€™s situation.
The Microbiome: Modulator of Pharmacological and Toxicological Exposures and Responses

The microbiome is increasingly recognized as a critical component in human development, health, and disease. Its relevance to toxicology and pharmacology involves challenges to current concepts rel...
Divergent Mechanisms Leading to Signaling Dysfunction in Embryonic Muscle by Bisphenol A and Tetrabromobisphenol A

Bisphenol A (BPA) and its brominated derivative tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) are high production volume chemicals used in the manufacture of various consumer products. Although regarded as endocrine disruptors, these chemicals are suspected to exert nongenomic actions on muscle function that are not well understood. Using skeletal muscle microsomes, we examined the effects of BPA and TBBPA on ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1), dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR), and sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA). We assessed the impact of these chemicals on Ca2+ dynamics and signaling in embryonic skeletal myotubes through fluorescent Ca2+ imaging and measurement of resting membrane potential (Vm). TBBPA activated RyR1 and inhibited DHPR and SERCA, inducing a net efflux of Ca2+ from loaded microsomes, whereas BPA exhibited little or no activity at these targets. Regardless, both compounds disrupted the function of intact myotubes. TBBPA diminished and eventually abrogated Ca2+ transients, altered intracellular Ca2+ equilibrium, and caused Vm depolarization. For some cells, BPA caused rapid Ca2+ transient loss without marked changes in cytosolic and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ levels, likely owing to altered cellular excitability as a result of BPA-induced Vm hyperpolarization. BPA and TBBPA both interfere with skeletal muscle function through divergent mechanisms that impair excitation-contraction coupling and may be exemplary of their adverse outcomes in other muscle types.
PET Measurement of Myocardial Metabolism

There is growing evidence that perturbations in myocardial substrate use play a key role in a variety of normal and abnormal cardiac states. A decline in myocardial fatty acid metabolism and a preference for glucose as an energy substrate characterize pressure-overload left ventricular hypertrophy. Conversely, an overdependence on myocardial fatty acid metabolism with a parallel decline in carbohydrate use is characteristic of the myocardial metabolic adaptation in diabetes mellitus. What is unclear is the extent to which these metabolic switches are adaptive and to what extent they have the propensity to become maladaptive.
Uric acid promotes vascular stiffness, maladaptive inflammatory responses and proteinuria in western diet fed mice

Abstract Objective Aortic vascular stiffness has been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in obese individuals. However, the mechanism promoting these adverse effects are unclear. In this context, promotion of obesity through consumption of a western diet (WD) high in fat and fructose leads to excess circulating uric acid. There is accumulating data implicating elevated uric acid in the promotion of CVD and CKD. Accordingly, we hypothesized that xanthine oxidase(XO) inhibition with allopurinol would prevent a rise in vascular stiffness and proteinuria in a translationally relevant model of WD-induced obesity. Materials/Methods Four-week-old C57BL6/J male mice were fed a WD with excess fat (46%) and fructose (17.5%) with or without allopurinol (125 mg/L in drinking water) for 16 weeks. Aortic endothelial and extracellular matrix/vascular smooth muscle stiffness was evaluated by atomic force microscopy. Aortic XO activity, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and aortic endothelial sodium channel (EnNaC) expression were evaluated along with aortic expression of inflammatory markers. In the kidney, expression of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) and fibronectin were assessed along with evaluation of proteinuria. Results XO inhibition significantly attenuated WD-induced increases in plasma uric acid, vascular XO activity and oxidative stress, in concert with reductions in proteinuria. Further, XO inhibition prevented WD-induced increases in aortic EnNaC expression and associated endothelial and subendothelial stiffness. XO inhibition also reduced vascular pro-inflammatory and maladaptive immune responses induced by consumption of a WD. XO inhibition also decreased WD-induced increases in renal TLR4 and fibronectin that associated proteinuria. Conclusions Consumption of a WD leads to elevations in plasma uric acid, increased vascular XO activity, oxidative stress, vascular stiffness, and proteinuria all of which are attenuated with allopurinol administration.
Selective Nanoparticle Targeting of the Renal Tubules

Direct targeting to the kidneys is a promising strategy to improve drug therapeutic index for the treatment of kidney diseases. We sought to investigate the renal selectivity and safety of kidney-targeted mesoscale nanoparticle technology. We found that direct intravenous administration of these particles resulted in 26-fold renal selectivity and localized negligibly in the liver or other organs. The nanoparticles targeted the renal proximal tubular epithelial cells, as evidenced by intravital microscopy and ex vivo imaging. Mice treated with the nanoparticles exhibited no negative systemic consequences, immune reaction, liver impairment, or renal impairment. The localization of material selectively to the renal tubules is uncommon, and this work portends the development of renal-targeted drugs for the treatment of kidney diseases.
Long-Term Impacts Faced by Patients and Families After Harmful Healthcare Events.

Background Patients and families report experiencing a multitude of harms from medical errors resulting in physical, emotional, and financial hardships. Little is known about the duration and nature of these harms and the type of support needed to promote patient and family healing after such events. We sought to describe the long-term impacts (LTIs) reported by patients and family members who experienced harmful medical events 5 or more years ago. Methods We performed a content analysis on 32 interviews originally conducted with 72 patients or family members about their views of the factors contributing to their self-reported harmful event. Interviews selected occurred 5 or more years after the harmful event and were grouped by time since event, 5 to 9 years (22 interviews) or 10 or more years (10 interviews) for analysis. We analyzed these interviews targeting spontaneous references of ongoing impacts experienced by the participants. Results Participants collectively described the following four LTIs: psychological, social/behavioral, physical, and financial. Most cited psychological impacts with half-reporting ongoing anger and vivid memories. More than half reported ongoing physical impacts and one-third experienced ongoing financial impacts. Long-term social and behavioral impacts such as alterations in lifestyle, self-identity, and healthcare seeking behaviors were the most highly reported. Conclusions These patients and families experienced many profound LTIs after their harmful medical event. For some, these impacts evolved into secondary harms ongoing 10 years and more after the event. Our results draw attention to the persistent impacts patients and families may experience long after harmful events and the need for future research to understand and support affected patients and families.
ELASTICITY SOLUTIONS FOR A CLASS OF COMPOSITE LAMINATE PROBLEMS WITH STRESS SINGULARITIES

A study on the fundamental mechanics of fiber-reinforced composite laminates with stress singularities is presented. Based on the theory of anisotropic elasticity and Lekhnitskii's complex-variable stress potentials, a system of coupled governing partial differential equations are established. An eigenfunction expansion method is introduced to determine the orders of stress singularities in composite laminates with various geometric configurations and material systems. Complete elasticity solutions are obtained for this class of singular composite laminate mechanics problems. Homogeneous solutions in eigenfunction series and particular solutions in polynomials are presented for several cases of interest. Three examples are given to illustrate the method of approach and the basic nature of the singular laminate elasticity solutions. The first problem is the well-known laminate free-edge stress problem, which has a rather weak stress singularity. The second problem is the important composite delamination problem, which has a strong crack-tip stress singularity. The third problem is the commonly encountered bonded composite joints, which has a complex solution structure with moderate orders of stress singularities.
Continuing Specific Heat Measurements of 3He in 3He - 4He Mixture Films

Additional data from our on-going experiments for the heat capacity of 3He in 3He-4He mixture films on a Nuclepore substrate are reported over the temperature range 90≤T≤165 mK, for 3He coverages between 0.05 and 1.4 bulk-density atomic lagers, on a 4He film of thickness 4.33 bulk-density atomic lagers. This is a two-dimensional Fermi liquid system, in which we can change the 3He coverage and thus tune the Fermi temperature.
A Longitudinal Analysis of New Car Purchase Patterns and Intentions (1977–1979) as Affected by Differing Degrees of Energy Uncertainty

The effect of increased cost and uncertain supplies of energy on new-car purchase intentions over a three-year period is examined in this study. Results reinforce projection of a further decline of demand for full-size autos and a strengthening of demand for much smaller autos, in the area studied.
HERPES: Vaccines for HSV

Herpes simplex viruses type 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are ubiquitous human pathogens capable of producing primary, latent, and recurrent infections. These viruses cause a variety of clinical illnesses including genital herpes, oral-facial infections (e.g., gingivostomatitis, labialis, pharyngitis), cutaneous infections (e.g., whitlow, herpes gladiatorum), ocular infections, neonatal herpes, herpes encephalitis, disseminated infection, and erythema multiforme. 25 Primary HSV infections may be symptomatic or subclinical. The severity and duration of most symptomatic primary infections can be reduced by prompt initiation of antiviral therapy with acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir. However, even with antiviral therapy, latency is established and patients are at risk of periodically experiencing symptomatic or asymptomatic recurrences. Recurrent infections are generally less severe than the primary infection, but respond less well to episodic antiviral therapy, and place the patient at high risk for transmitting the virus to susceptible individuals with whom they have close contact. The spread of genital herpes in the United States, for example, has increased over the past two decades despite the availability of effective antiviral therapy. 7 The magnitude of the public health problem posed by HSV infections and the apparent failure of antiviral therapy to significantly impact their spread establishes a clear need for safe and effective vaccines to control HSV disease. This article will summarize the past and current efforts to develop both prophylactic and therapeutic HSV vaccines.
From Military Member to Student: An Examination of the Communicative Challenges of Veterans to Perform Communication Accommodation in the University

This study examined the transition of veterans from the military to the classroom. Guided by communication accommodation theory (CAT), results of semi-structured interviews (N = 20) of military vet...
Circle Peace-Making in Alaska: A Return to Indigenous Practice Through Intercultural Dialogue

In this chapter, the authors explore the re-emergence of peace-making in a Tlingit community, its renaissance, and its value as a contemporary method of dispute resolution in rural Alaska. The circle peacemaking process (herein “circle peace-making”) works in collaboration with the State of Alaska judicial system, as a local restorative practice addressing misdemeanors and juvenile offenses. Local law enforcement and families within communities can refer misdemeanor and young offenders to circle peace-making. Local schools can also refer students who are in need of guidance and direction to address misbehaviors.
Treatment with magnesium improves reference memory but not working memory while reducing GFAP expression following traumatic brain injury

Purpose: Previous studies have shown that administration of MgCL 2 in animal models of brain injury significantly improves functional recovery: however, few studies have examined cognitive recovery. The present study evaluated the effect of MgCl 2 pharmacotherapy on recovery of function following medial frontal cortex contusion injury. Methods: Groups of rats were assigned to either MgCL 2 (1.0 mmol/kg) or saline treatment conditions and prepared with contusion injuries or shams. Drug treatment was administered 15 min and 24 hr following injury. Rats were examined on tests of sensorimotor performance (bilateral tactile adhesive removal) and cognitive ability (reference and working memory). Results: Administration of MgCl 2 following injury significantly reduced the behavioral impairments observed on the bilateral tactile removal test. The acquisition of reference memory was also significantly improved compared to saline-treated rats; however, treatment did not improve working memory performance. Lesion analysis revealed that administration of MgCl 2 did not significantly reduce lesion size compared to saline-treatment. Examination of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression showed that MgCl 2 did significantly reduce the number of GFAP + cells. Conclusion: These results indicate that MgCl 2 administration significantly improved behavioral outcome following injury in a task dependent manner and reduced GFAP expression.
Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Geothermal Fluids through Bacterial Cell Surface Adsorption

The increasing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) in the modern economy motivates the development of novel strategies for cost-effective REE recovery from nontraditional feedstocks. We previously engineered E. coli to express lanthanide binding tags on the cell surface, which increased the REE biosorption capacity and selectivity. Here we examined how REE adsorption by the engineered E. coli is affected by various geochemical factors relevant to geothermal fluids, including total dissolved solids (TDS), temperature, pH, and the presence of specific competing metals. REE biosorption is robust to TDS, with high REE recovery efficiency and selectivity observed with TDS as high as 165,000 ppm. Among several metals tested, U, Al, and Pb were found to be the most competitive, causing >25% reduction in REE biosorption when present at concentrations ∼3- to 11-fold higher than the REEs. Optimal REE biosorption occurred between pH 5-6, and sorption capacity was reduced by ∼65% at pH 2. REE recovery efficiency and selectivity increased as a function of temperature up to ∼70 °C due to the thermodynamic properties of metal complexation on the bacterial surface. Together, these data define the optimal and boundary conditions for biosorption and demonstrate its potential utility for selective REE recovery from geofluids.