cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expanding the 3-O-Sulfate Proteome--Enhanced Binding of Neuropilin-1 to 3-O-Sulfated Heparan Sulfate Modulates Its Activity

Binding of proteins to heparan sulfate is driven predominantly by electrostatic interactions between positively charged amino acid residues in the protein and negatively charged sulfate groups located at various positions along the polysaccharide chain. Although many heparin/heparan-sulfate-binding proteins have been described, few exhibit preferential binding for heparan sulfates containing relatively rare 3-O-sulfated glucosamine residues. To expand the "3-O-sulfate proteome," affinity matrices were created from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell heparan sulfate engineered in vitro with and without 3-O-sulfate groups. Fractionation of different animal sera yielded several proteins that bound specifically to columns containing 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate modified by two members of the heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfotransferase superfamily, Hs3st1 and Hs3st2. Neuropilin-1 was analyzed in detail because it has been implicated in angiogenesis and axon guidance. We show that 3-O-sulfation enhanced the binding of neuropilin-1 to heparan sulfate immobilized on plastic plates and to heparan sulfate present on cultured cells. Chemoenzymatically synthesized 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate dodecamers protected neuropilin-1 from thermal denaturation and inhibited neuropilin-1-dependent, semaphorin-3a-induced growth cone collapse of neurons derived from murine dorsal root ganglia. The effect of 3-O-sulfation was cell autonomous and specific to Hs3st2 based on collapse assays of neurons derived from Hs3st1- and Hs3st2-deficient mice. Finally, 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate enhanced the inhibition of endothelial cell sprouting by exogenous heparan sulfate. These findings demonstrate a reliable method to identify members of the 3-O-sulfate proteome and that 3-O-sulfation of heparan sulfate can modulate axonal growth cone collapse and endothelial cell sprouting.
One-Factorizations of Multigraphs

The complete multigraph λK v has v vertices and there are λ edges joining each pair of vertices. One-factors and one-factorizations of λK v are defined in the obvious way; if v is odd there can be no one-factor, and when v is even, say v = 2n, one can produce a one-factorization of λK 2n by taking λ copies of each factor in a one-factorization of K 2n .
'And Grace Will Lead Me Home': The Case for Judicial Race Activism

In many respects we have come a long way since the era of Jim Crow. It is no longer acceptable in most white circles overtly to express sentiments of white supremacy. But whites remain attached to a subtle and culture-borne sense of superiority vis-a-vis people of color. The law, and the judges who interpret and apply it, have played an important role in the construction of race and its social meanings, and they have an equally important part to play in effectuating racial progress. It is the contention of this essay that no principle of judicial restraint is available to justify hesitation in that regard.Part I develops the proposition that a dignitary racial hierarchy persists in America, taking as its point of departure Gunnar Myrdal’s well-known analysis of white Americans’ attitudes regarding race in the 1940s. Part II turns to an examination of what the law might do to combat dignitary racial hierarchy. Part II.A. describes the ways in which race and the law are intertwined, seeking to rebut the possible contention that the public (legal) and private realms are separate with regard to race. Part II.B. examines the ways existing equal protection law sustains white dignitary privilege, and contends that law could avoid doing so. Finally, Part II.C. argues that judges ought to be “activist” on matters of race: there is no case to be made for judicial restraint in this realm.
Slurry Flow in Pipe Networks

The basic equations for steady-state flow of a solid-liquid slurry in a network of pipes are developed. The equations are expressed in terms of unknown flow rates and solids concentrations for each pipe in the network. Two sets of simultaneous algebraic equations are obtained. These are nonlinear and a direct solution of the equation sets is not possible. A procedure for solving the equations based on linearization of nonlinear terms is descirbed. This procedure requires several trials and converges rapidly. A computer program was developed based on the proposed method and an example system is analyzed using this program and the results are presented.
The Distributional Effects of the Affordable Care Act's Cadillac Tax by Worker Income.

The “Cadillac tax” on high-cost employer-sponsored health coverage exacerbates inequities by differentially affecting the costs and subsidization of coverage for lower- and higher-income workers.
Flying qualities of an aircraft with strong lateral-directional coupling

Flying qualities of aircraft with strong lateral-directional coupling may be unsatisfactory without command and stability augmentation. Although sensitivity to stability derivative variation may be decreased by such a flight control system (FCS), deficiencies associated with control derivative uncertainty may persist or worsen. This is especially true in systems with necessarily high gains, e.g., the Space Shuttle Entry FCS. Effects of stability/control derivative variations on the flying qualities of the Space Shuttle (with and without FCS) have been investigated, and the unaugmented Space Shuttle has been simulated in flight using Princeton's Variable-Response Research Aircraft (VRA).
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Effects on Pollen: Archaeological Implications

Pollen is the reproductive agent of flowering plants; palynology is utilized by archaeologists because sporopollenin, a major component in the exine of pollen grains, is resistant to decay and morphologically distinctive. Wine, beer, and mead have been identified in the archaeological record by palynological assessment due to indicator species or due to a pollen profile similar to that recovered from honey, a common source of sugar in a variety of fermented beverages. While most palynologists have assumed that pollen grains are resistant to alcoholic fermentation, a recent study in food science implies that pollen is a yeast nutrient because pollen-enriched meads produce more alcohol. The experiment presented here explores the potential distortion of the pollen record through fermentation by brewing a traditional, pollen-rich mead with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this experiment, the pollen grains did not undergo any discernible morphological changes nor were distorted in the pollen profile. Any nutrition that the yeast garners from the pollen therefore leaves sporopollenin intact. These results support palynological research on residues of alcoholic beverages and confirms that the fermentation process does not distort the pollen profile of the original substance. The paper concludes with the potential and limits of palynological study to assess fermentation within the archaeological record.
Epidemiological Analysis of pulmonary tuberculosis in Xuancheng City in 1999~2008

Objective To analyze the characteristics of the incidence and epidemic trends of pulmonary tuberculosis in Xuancheng City in 1999~2008 and to provide basis for making strategies and control programs of the disease.Methods The Data from National Notifiable Dideasea Registry System(NNDRS) and reports of annual work 1999~2008 were analyzed.Results The average incidence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1999-2008 was 71.91/105,Average fatality rate was 0.22/105.Male incidence rate was 2.78 times than female incidence rate.The average incidence rate was the highest in 70~74 age group which was 305.79/105.Farmers accounted for 74.56% of the total number of incidence.Conclusions The farmers and the elderly were the focus-populations of TB prophylaxis and treatment.High-quality implementation of DOTS strategy was the key to control tuberculosis in our city.
Research of Breaking up Electromagnetic Ring in Urban Power Network

In the planning of urban power network, the electromagnetic ring problem should be dealt with scientifically to ensure the coordinational development of 500 kV and 220 kV power networks. The authors propose the guiding ideology and corresponding technical principle to actively deal with electromagnetic ring in urban power network: during the development of urban power network, the prospective planning of 500 kV power network should be considered and the timing and location to break up the electromagnetic ring should be reasonably determined; after breaking up the electromagnetic ring, the target power network should keep the small ring structure as possible other than the radial structure with power supply by single circuit. The research results of this paper offer theoretical basis for reasonably determining the timing and location to break up electromagnetic ring of urban power network.
PGD2 is an intermediate in agonist-stimulated nitric oxide release in rabbit skin microcirculation.

We investigated the role of endogenous prostaglandins and NO in the blood flow response of skin microcirculation in vivo. Test agents were injected intradermally in anesthetized rabbits and changes...
Protection of preglomerular vessels from angiotensin II vasoconstriction by renal prostaglandins

Previous studies suggest that the renal vasoconstrictor effect of angiotensin II (ANG II) is confined primarily to efferent arterioles, with little direct action on preglomerular vessels. The present study examined the role of prostaglandins (PG) in protecting preglomerular vessels from ANG II constriction. In dogs in which ANG II formation was blocked with captopril and renal artery pressure was servo-controlled, i.v. ANG II infusion (20 ng/kg per min) decreased renal blood flow (RBF) by about 50% while causing no significant change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and increasing filtration fraction (FF). After PG blockade, ANG II infusion decreased GFR by more than 30% and RBF by more than 50%, while causing much greater increases in calculated preglomerular resistance (RA) than in dogs without PG blockade. To prevent secondary changes in renal resistances via tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF), glomerular filtration was stopped by occluding the ureter during mannitol diuresis. After inhibition of TGF, ANG II decreased RBF markedly and increased glomerular hydrostatic pressure by 8-10 mmHg due to large increases in postglomerular resistance (RE) with no change in RA. After PG blockade and inhibition of TGF, ANG II decreased RBF by about the same amount as in control dogs but did not change glomerular hydrostatic pressure due to marked increases in both RA and RE. These data suggest that PGs selectively protect preglomerular vessels from ANG II constriction but do not interfere with the effect of ANG II on efferent arterioles.
MO‐D‐BRB‐00: SBRT Workflow Overview

Increased use of SBRT and hypofractionation in radiation oncology practice has posted a number of challenges to medical physicist, ranging from planning, image-guided patient setup and on-treatment monitoring, to quality assurance (QA) and dose delivery. This symposium is designed to provide current knowledge necessary for the safe and efficient implementation of SBRT in various linac platforms, including the emerging digital linacs equipped with high dose rate FFF beams. Issues related to 4D CT, PET and MRI simulations, 3D/4D CBCT guided patient setup, real-time image guidance during SBRT dose delivery using gated/un-gated VMAT/IMRT, and technical advancements in QA of SBRT (in particular, strategies dealing with high dose rate FFF beams) will be addressed. The symposium will help the attendees to gain a comprehensive understanding of the SBRT workflow and facilitate their clinical implementation of the state-of-art imaging and planning techniques. Learning Objectives: 1.Present background knowledge of SBRT, describe essential requirements for safe implementation of SBRT, and discuss issues specific to SBRT treatment planning and QA. 2.Update on the use of multi-dimensional and multi-modality imaging for reliable guidance of SBRT. 3.Discuss treatment planning and QA issues specific to SBRT. 4.Provide a comprehensive overview of emerging digital linacs and summarize the key geometric and dosimetric features of the new generation of linacs for substantially improved SBRT. NIH/NCI; Varian Medical Systems; F. Yin, Duke University has a research agreement with Varian Medical Systems. In addition to research grant, I had a technology license agreement with Varian Medical Systems
Small-Molecule Targeting of BET Proteins in Cancer

BET proteins have recently become recognized for their role in a broad range of cancers and are defined by the presence of two acetyl-histone reading bromodomains and an ET domain. This family of proteins includes BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and BRDT. BRD4 is the most-studied BET protein in cancer, and normally serves as an epigenetic reader that links active chromatin marks to transcriptional elongation through activation of RNA polymerase II. The role of BRD3 and BRD4 first became known in cancer as mutant oncoproteins fused to the p300-recruiting NUT protein in a rare aggressive subtype of squamous cell cancer known as NUT midline carcinoma (NMC). BET inhibitors are acetyl-histone mimetics that specifically bind BET bromodomains, competitively inhibiting its engagement with chromatin. The antineoplastic effects of BET inhibitors were first demonstrated in NMC and have since been shown to be effective at inhibiting the growth of many different cancers, particularly acute leukemia. BET inhibitors have also been instrumental as tool compounds that have demonstrated the key role of BRD4 in driving NMC and non-NMC cancer growth. Many clinical trials enrolling patients with hematologic and solid tumors are ongoing, with encouraging preliminary findings. BET proteins BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4 are expressed in nearly all cells of the body, so there are concerns of toxicity with BET inhibitors, as well as the development of resistance. Toxicity and resistance may be overcome by combining BET inhibitors with other targeted inhibitors, or through the use of novel BET inhibitor derivatives.
Microseismicity of the Intraplate Northern Wabash Fault System and La Salle Anticlinorium, Illinois Basin, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT Within the Illinois basin, the northern Wabash Valley seismic zone (WVSZ) and adjoining La Salle anticlinal belt have produced three moderate‐sized earthquakes ranging from m b 4.7 to m b 5.2 in the past 50 years. However, few smaller events from this area are recorded in regional catalogs. The Wabash fault system extends from the junction of the Rough Creek and Cottage Grove faults in the south along the Wabash River into the La Salle anticlinal belt to the north. These faults extend through the Paleozoic and into the Precambrian basement. Two of these moderate‐sized earthquakes occurred north of the terminus of the Wabash Valley fault system where it meets the La Salle anticline. The La Salle anticline, a Precambrian basement feature, is oriented northwest to southeast. The La Salle anticline creates up to a 750 m uplift in the above Paleozoic strata. This uplift creates faults within the Paleozoic strata and within the La Salle anticline. This study uses a nine‐seismograph phased array near the southern terminus of the La Salle anticline to monitor the microseismicity of the region. Analyzing the seismicity of the region over a six‐month period found 834 events. The vast majority were determined to be mine blasts or otherwise human induced. Two small earthquakes ( M L ∼1.0) located near the La Salle anticline. These earthquakes likely occur on faults associated with the anticline. The lack of microearthquakes suggests the b ‐value of the La Salle region is lower than the typical value of 1. The b ‐value is consistent with other intraplate regions and previous studies of the WVSZ finding values nearer 0.7 or even potentially as low as 0.6.
Scalable Phased Array Architectures With a Reduced Number of Tunable Phase Shifters

A new architecture for scalable phased array design is presented. A vector summation technique is used in a new feed network in order to reduce the number of tunable phase shifters in the phased array. As a result, phased array front-end’s complexity is reduced. In this architecture, one tunable phase shifter and ${N}$ variable gain amplifiers (VGAs) adjust the phase and amplitude of the signal at each antenna element in an ${N}$ -element subarray. The technique allows a number of subarrays to be connected together to form a larger array providing a narrow beamwidth. An optimum design based on a particle swarm optimization algorithm is presented for an ${N}$ -element subarray. As a proof of concept, an eight-element transmit phased array consisting of two four-element subarrays is designed and tested at the Ku-band based on the described method. Measurement results for the eight-element phased array are presented. The eight-element phased array controlled by two phase shifters and eight VGAs provides approximately 37° of scan range.
Dynamic performance of an in-rack proton exchange membrane fuel cell battery system to power servers

Abstract To improve the reliability and the energy efficiency of data centers, as well as to reduce infrastructure costs and environmental impacts, we experimentally evaluated in-rack powering of servers with a hybrid 12 kW Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) and battery system. The steady state and the transient performance of the PEMFC and battery in response to dynamic AC loads and real server loads have been evaluated and characterized. The PEMFC system responds quickly and reproducibly to load changes directly from the server rack. Peak efficiency of 55.2% in a single server rack can be achieved. The effect of fuel cell coolant temperature on the hybrid system transient behavior is also captured and evaluated. The observed PEMFC transient responses obtained from the experiments were used to design the size of the energy storage component for the hybrid system. Simulations and analysis of various types of energy storage devices for the hybrid system were carried out. To provide power to meet the most significant transient demand, energy storage capacity greater than 0.3 kWh is required for all battery types, while only 0.053 kWh capacity is required for the ultracapacitor. During charging, the ultracapacitor uses the shortest amount of time to recover to the original SOC, while the charging duration for the lead acid battery is twice as long as that of the ultracapacitor.
Assessing the uptake of persistent identifiers by research infrastructure users

Significant progress has been made in the past few years in the development of recommendations, policies, and procedures for creating and promoting citations to data sets, software, and other research infrastructures like computing facilities. Open questions remain, however, about the extent to which referencing practices of authors of scholarly publications are changing in ways desired by these initiatives. This paper uses four focused case studies to evaluate whether research infrastructures are being increasingly identified and referenced in the research literature via persistent citable identifiers. The findings of the case studies show that references to such resources are increasing, but that the patterns of these increases are variable. In addition, the study suggests that citation practices for data sets may change more slowly than citation practices for software and research facilities, due to the inertia of existing practices for referencing the use of data. Similarly, existing practices for acknowledging computing support may slow the adoption of formal citations for computing resources.
Perfusion Index: An Indicator of Success During Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy for Hyperhidrosis

Background Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) is indicated for refractory hyperhidrosis. The pulse oximetry–derived perfusion index (PI) quantifies pulsatile blood flow at the oximeter. Thoracic sympathectomy increases blood flow; thus we postulate it will reliably increase PI. We evaluated the ipsilateral finger PI as a predictor of successful sympathectomy during ETS. Methods After institutional review board approval and informed consent, 100 adult patients undergoing bilateral ETS were studied. Finger and earlobe pulse oximetry probes were placed. Hemodynamic variables and PI were continuously monitored. PI data were collected before and every minute after sympathectomy for 5 minutes and then at 10 minutes. We defined a successful sympathectomy by at least a 50% increase of the PI on the ipsilateral arm. A repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to determine overall model significance ( p ≤ 0.05). Results Left sympathectomy was associated with a mean 240% increase in PI ( p p Conclusions In patients with hyperhidrosis of the upper extremities, intraoperative PI derived from an ipsilateral finger pulse oximeter is an intraoperative marker for successful thoracic sympathectomy.
Another Look at the Construct Validity of the Gifted Rating Scales: Preschool/Kindergarten and School Forms:

This study further examined the Gifted Rating Scales (GRS) at the internal and external stages of test validation by (a) testing structural fidelity as indicated by the number of factors supported ...
Double photoionization of tropone and cyclooctatetraene

We have studied the double-photoionization process of tropone (C7H6O) and cyclooctatetraene (C8H8) as a function of photon energy using monochromatized synchrotron radiation between 18 and 270 eV. We compare our results with previously published data for partially deuterated benzene (C6H3D3), which exhibits three distinct features in the ratio of doubly to singly charged parent ions, whereas pyrrole (C4H4N) exhibits only two of these features. The question that we address in this paper is how molecules with different molecular structures (pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, and octagonal carbon rings) affect the photon-energy dependence of this ratio.
What Urinary Colony Count Indicates a Urinary Tract Infection in Children

Post-hoc analysis of the Randomized Intervention for Children with Vesicoureteral Reflux study suggests that, in concordance with European guidelines, using bacteriologic criterion of ≥10 000 colony forming units/mL of a single organism does not decrease diagnostic specificity of an urinary tract infection in children aged 2 months to 6 years in a properly collected urine if symptoms/fever and pyuria are present. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT00405704.
Biomonitoring: Closing the Loop in the Environmental Sciences

For the purposes of this chapter we define biomonitoring as the analysis of the performance of living systems structured to provide essential information for decision making. Although some form of biomonitoring has been used for hundreds, if not thousands of years (Herricks and Schaeffer 1984), a cohesive approach to the design and use of biomonitoring programs is a recent development. This chapter discusses biomonitoring programs, emphasizing program designs that coordinate data collection and facilitate information retrieval. We highlight the role of biomonitoring in the context of environmental management and regulation. We suggest that both control theory and decision science can be used to refine biomonitoring programs to optimize the use of data in the environmental sciences, management, and regulation.
Climate change and Epichloë coenophiala association modify belowground fungal symbioses of tall fescue host

Abstract Human alteration of symbiont genetics among aboveground endophytic Epichloe coenophiala strains within tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) has led to widespread deployment of novel grass-endophyte combinations, yet little is known about their ecological consequences. In this study, clone pairs (endophyte-infected, endophyte-free) of two tall fescue genotypes received factorial combinations of increased temperature (+3 °C) and precipitation (+30% long-term annual mean) for 2 yr. We measured root arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), dark septate endophyte (DSE) colonization, and soil AMF extraradical hyphae (ERH) length. We hypothesized that genetically distinct grass-E. coenophiala associations would differentially affect belowground fungi, and that these relationships would be climate-sensitive. Tall fescue genotype, endophyte presence, and climate treatment interactions affected AMF arbuscules, vesicles, and ERH. DSE decreased with E. coenophiala presence but increased with warming. Genetically distinct tall fescue-E. coenophiala associations may have divergent long-term impacts on other host-symbiont interactions, potentially impacting ecosystem function and response to climate change.
Impacts of Pathogen Introduction Risk on Importer Behavior and Gains from Trade in the Livestock Industry

Trade eliminates geographic barriers, allowing for novel exchange of goods and services, but also creates pathways for the unintentional spread of infectious pathogens such as foot and mouth disease. In the absence of trade regulation, a producer's choice of import origin depends on relative prices and costs associated with trading partners. This paper develops a framework for exploring importer behavior in a non-regulated economy, allowing for price and risk heterogeneity among potential import sources. In the model, importers determine the risk of introducing foot and mouth disease to home soil and choose import volumes using risk and market data. When importers consider the possibility of unreported or undetected outbreaks, they choose to import from multiple sources to minimize risk and simultaneously create gains from trade over the regulated outcome. Our results have implications for the development of import and inspection policies that could be specifically designed to target highest risk imports of livestock.
Reimagining Organizational Theory for the Critical Study of Higher Education

The aim of this chapter is to reimagine organizational theory so that higher education researchers and administrators can go about their work in ways that foreground justice. In Sect. 11.1, we set higher education in context and highlight ways in which justice has historically and persistently been undermined in the name of or through the administration of U.S. higher education. In Sect. 11.2, we sketch out our understanding of organizational theory and theories within the critical paradigm. In Sect. 11.3, we discuss several familiar organizational perspectives—which we present as schools of thought—only to reimagine them by infusing each with ideas, commitments, and insights drawn from the critical paradigm. To illustrate how conventional and reimagined organizational perspectives assist leaders and researchers, we apply both to issues of injustice within the field of higher education. Finally, in Sect. 11.4, we conclude with a summative discussion, note the limitations of our work, and offer various ways that leaders and scholars might use this chapter for policy, practice, and research.
Predicting the potential invasion of kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Heteroptera: Plataspidae), in North and South America and determining its climatic preference

Biological invasions have long placed challenges on ecosystems, agricultural production, and human health. Modeling potential invasion of an introduced organism becomes a critical tool for early management of damaging species, such as kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera:Heteroptera:Plataspidae). Since it was first found in the United States in 2009, kudzu bug has spread rapidly, economically impacted agricultural production, and became a household pest. To better predict the potential invasion of kudzu bug in North and South America, we used the species distribution models Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Production (GARP) and Maximum Entropy (Maxent). We used the D metric to test for niche equivalency and similarity between native and invaded populations of kudzu bug. We found that kudzu bugs currently occupied unequal environmental space between the two ranges. Therefore, distribution models using GARP and Maxent were constructed using occurrences in both native and invaded ranges. Area under the curve (AUC), true skill statistics (TSS), and omission rate (OR) were used to evaluate and compare the models. Results indicated both models had good performance, but Maxent (AUC = 0.971, TSS = 0.946, OR = 0.019) performed better than GARP (AUC = 0.922, TSS = 0.860, OR = 0.037). This research confirmed the effectiveness of using occurrence data in both ranges to predict potential invasions. Kudzu bugs prefer warm (annual mean temperature around 15 °C) and humid (annual mean precipitation around 1300 mm) regions. Distribution models generated by both methods indicated similar regions with high invasion risk. Management programs that include quarantine and prevention measures are suggested for these regions to avoid outbreaks of kudzu bug.
Can Physicians Demonstrate High Quality Care Using Paternalistic Practices? A Case Study of Paternalism in Latino Physician-Patient Interactions

We argue that patient autonomy is a cultural value specific to Western culture and that the autonomy focus in U.S. health care may produce negative patient outcomes for patients from other cultures. To this end, we present a case study of a Mexican physician's interactions with his patients and apply the method of discourse analysis to argue that (a) this physician's interactions are highly paternalistic, (b) there is an appreciation for this among his Latino patients and in the broader Latino community, and (c) this physician provides high-quality ethical care precisely because his paternalism communicates important ethical values such as familial intimacy, insistence, and care. We further propose that paternalism may produce better outcomes for Latino patients.
Population Distribution and Suburbanization

This chapter uses census data to study the massive suburbanization or outward spread of population in U.S. metropolitan areas during the twentieth century and initial stages of the twenty-first century. In decade by decade comparisons of the post-World War II period, we find that the size of the suburban population has increased in a rapid continuous pattern. Central cities have shown varied patterns of growth over decades, but no evidence exists that they are typically experiencing major growth in population numbers. Within the suburban rings of metropolitan areas, the major factors affecting their recent growth are previous population density (low = high overall growth) and the in-movement of the foreign born (high in-movement = high overall growth). We also provide some analysis of the suburbanization of the United States since its founding and the growth of suburban areas around metropolitan areas in the less developed world. Recent decades have been characterized in many countries around the world by very high metropolitan population growth, including in their suburban rings.
NEUROPHARMACOLOGY OF SPINAL CORD REACTION TO NOXIOUS INPUTS

Publisher Summary Spinal cord systems related to the processing of nociceptive stimuli may be broadly categorised in terms of the substrates that are related to the transmission of information from the peripheral afferent to supra-spinal structures, that is, the rostrad transmission systems (RTS) and the modulatory systems (both descending and intrinsic) that control or gate activity in the RTS. Recent observations have begun to reveal the hodology and pharmacology of the synapses of which these two broadly defined systems are composed. This chapter describes the results of the experiments that shed light on the pharmacology of these two broadly defined systems. The experiments suggest that somatic input sets into operation two classes of events: (1) transmission in a rostrad pathway relaying messages regarding the nature of the environment and (2) a reflex modulatory substrate that effectively controls the gain of the RTS, and thereby exerts a powerful control over the animal's response to the environment.
The prevalence of complementary/alternative medicine in cancer: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Complementary/alternative cancer treatments are believed to be prevalent. However, reliable prevalence rates do not exist. The aim of this review was to summarize the existing data on this topic. METHODS A series of computerized literature searches was performed to locate all published studies documenting the prevalence of complementary and/or alternative therapy (CAM) use among patients with cancer. RESULTS A total of 26 surveys from 13 countries, including 4 studies of pediatric patients, was retrieved. The use of CAM therapies in adult populations ranged from 7-64%. The average prevalence across all adult studies was 31.4%. CONCLUSIONS This large degree of variability most likely is due to different understandings of "complementary/alternative medicine" on the part of both investigators and patients. It is likely that the results of the current study reflect the primarily adjunctive use of CAM treatments. Future studies should use a standardized protocol to determine the true prevalence of these therapies more closely. Cancer 1998;83:777-782. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
Rainwater harvesting, a measure to meet domestic water requirement; a case study Islamabad, Pakistan.

Pakistan is located in the semi-arid region of the world where water scarcity is a major issue. In such areas, rainwater harvesting (RWH) is considered to be the best alternate source of domestic water supply. Rainwater harvesting is being considered as an integral part of the sustainable water management in many parts of the world. Rainfall patterns in arid areas are typically highly variable, both spatially and temporally. Hence, there is always a need to evaluate rainwater harvesting keeping in view the seasonal variations for a specific area. In rainwater harvesting, a mechanism is designed to collect surface runoffs effectively during rainfall events from residential rooftops. In this paper, it has also been analyzed that rainwater has a great potential to be taken as a source of water demands in residential colonies of major cities like Islamabad being our study area. Here, 116 m2 (five marlas) housing pocket has been considered as a model site for which various water demands have been calculated depending upon residential needs and horticulture requirements of the study pocket. Rainwater from rooftops has been used to reduce freshwater needs of the houses. As a result, residential water demands for fresh water have reduced by almost 22% average.
Enlightened PD: A novel treatment for Parkinson disease?

Depression and other nonmotor manifestations such as sleep disturbances are common and disabling features of Parkinson disease (PD).1 These symptoms contribute to poor quality of life and impaired cognitive performance and lead to increased morbidity and mortality in the PD population. Current nonpharmacologic treatment options for depression and other nonmotor symptoms of PD are limited. Pharmacotherapy may be associated with undesirable adverse effects. There is therefore a great need to develop novel treatment modalities.
William Marshal and the Origins of The Castle of Otranto

Horace Walpole’s account of the genesis of The Castle of Otranto is well known. One night, he dreamt of “a gigantic hand in armour” and next “sat down … to write, without knowing in the least what ...
The graphs that have antivoltages using groups of small order

Abstract Given a group Γ of order at most six, we characterize the graphs that have Γ -antivoltages and also determine the list of minor-minimal graphs that have no Γ -antivoltage. Our characterizations yield polynomial-time recognition algorithms for such graphs.
Addressing Barriers to Uptake of Breast Cancer Chemoprevention for Patients and Providers

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in the United States, and the primary prevention of this disease is a major public health issue. Because there are relatively few modifiable breast cancer risk factors, pharmacologic interventions with antiestrogens have the potential to significantly affect the primary prevention setting. Breast cancer chemoprevention with selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) tamoxifen and raloxifene, and with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) exemestane and anastrozole, is underutilized despite several randomized controlled trials demonstrating up to a 50% to 65% relative risk reduction in breast cancer incidence among women at high risk. An estimated 10 million women in the United States meet high-risk criteria for breast cancer and are potentially eligible for chemoprevention, but less than 5% of women at high risk who are offered antiestrogens for primary prevention agree to take it. Reasons for low chemoprevention uptake include lack of routine breast cancer risk assessment in primary care, inadequate time for counseling, insufficient knowledge about antiestrogens among patients and providers, and concerns about side effects. Interventions designed to increase chemoprevention uptake, such as decision aids and incorporating breast cancer risk assessment into clinical practice, have met with limited success. Clinicians can help women make informed decisions about chemoprevention by effectively communicating breast cancer risk and enhancing knowledge about the risks and benefits of antiestrogens. Widespread adoption of chemoprevention will require a major paradigm shift in clinical practice for primary care providers (PCPs). However, enhancing uptake and adherence to breast cancer chemoprevention holds promise for reducing the public health burden of this disease.
Motif V regulates energy transduction between the flavivirus NS3 ATPase and RNA-binding cleft

The unwinding of dsRNA intermediates is critical for the replication of flavivirus RNA genomes. This activity is provided by the C-terminal helicase domain of viral nonstructural protein 3 (NS3). As a member of the superfamily 2 (SF2) helicases, NS3 requires the binding and hydrolysis of ATP/NTP to translocate along and unwind double-stranded nucleic acids. However, the mechanism of energy transduction between the ATP- and RNA-binding pockets is not well-understood. Previous molecular dynamics simulations conducted by our group have identified Motif V as a potential "communication hub" for this energy transduction pathway. To investigate the role of Motif V in this process, here we combined molecular dynamics, biochemistry, and virology approaches. We tested Motif V mutations in both the replicon and recombinant protein systems to investigate viral genome replication, RNA-binding affinity, ATP hydrolysis activity, and helicase-mediated unwinding activity. We found that the T407A and S411A substitutions in NS3 reduce viral replication and increase the helicase-unwinding turnover rates by 1.7- and 3.5-fold, respectively, suggesting that flaviviruses may use suboptimal NS3 helicase activity for optimal genome replication. Additionally, we used simulations of each mutant to probe structural changes within NS3 caused by each mutation. These simulations indicate that Motif V controls communication between the ATP-binding pocket and the helical gate. These results help define the linkage between ATP hydrolysis and helicase activities within NS3 and provide insight into the biophysical mechanisms for ATPase-driven NS3 helicase function.
Depression and self-reported memory problems in adult-onset cancer survivors.

9586 Background: Memory impairments are debilitating adverse effects of cancer and its treatments. Depression may predispose or exacerbate memory problems. We examined the relationship between depr...
Functional Role of Second Heart Field-derived Smooth Muscle Cells in Thoracic Aortopathies in Mice

Background: The ascending aorta is a common location for thoracic aortopathies. Pathology predominates in the aortic media with disease severity being most apparent in outer laminar layers. In the ascending aorta, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are derived from two embryonic origins: cardiac neural crest and second heart field (SHF). SMCs of these origins have distinct distributions, and the localization of SHF coincides with the regional specificity in some forms of thoracic aortopathies. However, the role of SHF-derived SMCs in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of the ascending aorta remains unclear. Methods: Mass spectrometry assisted proteomic and single cell transcriptomic analyses were performed in mouse aortas to discriminate molecular features of SHF-derived SMCs in maintaining the aortic homeostasis. Genetic deletion of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (Lrp1) or transforming growth factor-β receptor 2 (Tgfbr2) in SHF-derived SMCs was conducted to examine impact of SHF-derived SMCs on the development of thoracic aortopathies. Results: Proteomic analysis did not detect differences in protein profiles between ascending (disease prone) and descending (disease resistant) thoracic aortas in saline-infused mice. However, angiotensin II infusion altered these profiles in a region-specific manner. Angiotensin II evoked differential expression of multiple LRP1 ligands. Histological analysis demonstrated that angiotensin II-induced medial disruptions were detected mainly in outer laminar layers derived from the SHF. Single cell RNA sequencing using normal mouse aortas revealed lower abundance of elastin mRNA in SHF-derived SMCs compared to SMCs from the cardiac neural crest. In addition, Lrp1 and Tgfbr2 mRNA were abundant in SHF-derived SMCs. To examine biological effects of SHF-derived cells, Lrp1 or Tgfbr2 was deleted in SHF-derived cells in mice. SHF-specific Lrp1 deletion augmented angiotensin II-induced aortic aneurysm and rupture in the ascending region. Proteomic analysis discerned regulation of protein abundances related to TGF-β signaling pathways by Lrp1 deletion in SHF-derived cells. Deletion of Tgfbr2, a key regulator of TGF-β signaling, in SHF-derived cells led to embryonic lethality at E12.5 with dilatation of the outflow tract and retroperitoneal hemorrhage in mice. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that SMCs derived from the SHF play a critical role in the integrity of the ascending aortic wall.
Social Skills and Medical Responsibility Across Development in Youth With Spina Bifida

OBJECTIVE To examine the predictive role of social skills in youth with spina bifida (SB) on growth in medical responsibility across development. METHODS As part of a larger, longitudinal study, 140 youth with SB were assessed across four time points (ages 8-22 across time points). Mixed-effects models were investigated for change with: (a) no predictors (i.e., change in medical responsibility across age; time was examined using the participant's age, centered at 11.5 years); (b) social variables (i.e., observed social behaviors, parent- and teacher-reported social skills) as predictors; and (c) social variables as predictors with intelligence quotient, lesion level, and sex as covariates. RESULTS Significant growth with age was identified for medical responsibility (p < .0001). Observed, parent-reported, and teacher-reported social skills did not significantly predict this growth; however, all three predicted the intercept for medical responsibility at 11.5 years of age (ps ≤ .047). Parent-reported social skills remained a significant predictor of the intercept at 11.5 years of age when including the covariates (p = .008). CONCLUSIONS Children with SB who exhibited more positive social skills were more likely to a have higher level of medical responsibility in late childhood, but higher levels of social skills were not associated with a more rapid increase in responsibility over time. Identifying existing social strengths and promoting the practice of prosocial skills may have additional benefits to children with SB, including their acquisition of medical responsibility.
Modeling and optimization of thrust force, torque, and surface roughness in ultrasonic-assisted drilling using surface response methodology

Due to the high number of applications of aluminum alloys in aircraft and automotive industries, there is a great interest in machining and specifically drilling these materials. Even though aluminum is considered a machinable material, drilling this material has its own challenges including built-up edge (BUE), exit burr, and low surface roughness of the drilled holes. Ultrasonic-assisted drilling (UAD) process, a technology that applies high-frequency vibrations with low amplitudes has proven to have many benefits compared to conventional drilling. In this study, a special resolution V design as well as response surface methodology (RSM) were used to characterize the UAD process of Aluminum 6061. This characterization was done through the study of the effect of drilling parameters including spindle speed, feed rate, and amplitude on thrust force, torque, and surface roughness. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to find significant parameters of thrust force, torque, and surface roughness. Then, the optimum values of drilling parameters that minimized these parameters were obtained. The results showed that in UAD of aluminum, the minimum values of thrust force and torque were obtained at low spindle speed, low feed rate, and high amplitude, while minimum surface roughness was obtained at high spindle speed, low feed rate, and high amplitude. Finally, out-of-sample testing was used to verify the adequacy of the mathematical models.
Application of QSPR Modeling in Designing and Prediction of Power Conversion-Efficient Solar Cell

The advancement of technology and industrialization demands clean, economic, and reliable energy sources that can be fulfilled by high-volume and power-efficient production of solar cells. To speed up the solar cell development process in a rational way, in the last decade, molecular modeling and machine learning (ML) have shown enough potential to accomplish this task. Especially, quantitative structure–property relationships (QSPRs) modeling has reported designing of promising lead components for diverse solar cell systems with higher power conversion efficiency (%PCE) than the existing ones. Until now, most of the QSPR models have been employed for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and polymer solar cells (PSCs) followed by designing acceptor and donor components of these systems. But this chapter also encourages the future application of QSPR for quantum dot solar devices (QDSC’s), perovskite solar cells to improve their efficiency further. The present chapter deals with the role of QSPR modeling in solar cells and discusses how QSPR can be implemented in solar cell designing as well as the virtual screening of materials databases. Additionally, solar cell databases and preparation of webserver for future prediction of %PCE, along with other photophysical parameters, are meticulously discussed to provide an easy start for the beginners. Successful QSPR models for DSSCs and PSCs are also illustrated with detailed modeling information followed by mechanistic introspection.
Towards uniform channel performance in dynamic WDM systems and networks

Several channel-degrading effects are present in dynamic reconfigurable wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems and networks. These effects must be addressed by tunable methods so that signals do not fade with time. The relevant issues to be addressed include; dispersion compensation, power equalization, PMD compensation, and EDFA gain flattening and transient control.
Code and moral values in cyberspace

This essay is a critique of Larry Lessig's book, Code and other Laws of Cyberspace (Basic Books, 1999). It summarizes Lessig's theory of the four modalities of regulation in cyberspace: code, law, markets, and norms. It applies this theory to the topics of privacy and speech, illustrating how code can undermine basic rights or liberties. The review raises questions about the role of ethics in this model, and it argues that ethical principles must be given a privileged position in any theory that purports to deal with the shaping of behavior in cyberspace. Finally, it proposes a philosophy of ethical self-regulation instead of an over-reliance on government policy to deal with certain improprieties and negative externalities that tend to disrupt the Net.