cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Ties That Bind: Building Civic Capacity for the Tennessee Achievement School District:

The Tennessee Achievement School District (ASD) is among several state-run districts established to turn around underperforming schools. Like other such districts, the ASD removes schools from loca...
Ca2+-dependent chloride conductance inNecturus taste cells

This report describes the occurrence and localization of a Ca2+-dependent chloride conductance in taste cells ofNecturus maculosus. Lingual epithelium fromNecturus was removed with blunt dissection and mounted in a modified Ussing chamber which allowed individual taste cells to be impaled with intracellular micropipettes. Solutions in the mucosal and serosal chambers could be changed independently and the properties of apical and basolateral membranes tested separately. Action potentials in taste cells, elicited by brief depolarizing current pulses passed through the intracellular recording microelectrode, provided an accurate description of whether voltage-dependent conductances had been blocked or unmasked by the experimental conditions. We found that Ca2+ influx during the action potential triggers a prolonged depolarization due to Ca2+-dependent conductance changes, particularly in the presence of TEA to block repolarizing K+ currents. This afterdepolarization could last up to 7 sec and is due, in part, to a Ca2+-dependent Cl− conductance. Other Ca2+-dependent channels such as Ca2+-dependent K+ channels or nonselective cation channels may also contribute to the afterpotential. Calcium-dependent conductance channels were situated on apical and basolateral membranes of the taste cells. We speculate that Ca2+-dependent Cl− channels may play a role in discriminating chloride salts from salts of other anions and may help shape receptor cell responses elicited by taste stimuli.
The Modern Consciousness and the Winged Chariot

We are living in a world and time of apparently incessant intellectual revolution, a permanent revolution in a profounder sense than Trotsky ever envisaged, rushing us on past landmark, guidepost, and certitude into a world and time beyond our control and imagining.
Neurologic Complications of Myeloma

Patients with multiple myeloma frequently develop neurological complications related to the disease or its treatment [1–3]. These neurological complications may affect the central nervous system (CNS) [4] or more commonly the peripheral nervous system (PNS) [1, 5]. Neurological complications can result from: (a) Direct infiltration of the nervous system by neoplastic cells [4] (b) Indirect effect such as paraneoplastic syndrome or amyloid deposition [5] (c) Iatrogenic effect during multiple myeloma treatment [1] (d) Toxic-metabolic syndrome related to systemic complications of multiple myeloma [6] (e) A combination of the above
Revised Library Media Standards Adopted by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Ten years after the publication of its first edition of Library Media Standards, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) embarked on the preparation of its second edition. During the 2009–2010 academic year, a Development Committee selected by NPBTS from nominees from across the nation worked with NBPTS staff to review and revise the original Standards document to reflect current theory and practice in the library media field. This chapter provides background information on NBPTS, presents the newly revised standards statements, and outlines the major changes between the first and second Standards editions. The chapter then summarizes the development, approval, and assessment processes used by NBPTS to create the document that will be used over the next 10 years by school librarians and media specialists seeking National Board Certification.
Enhancing Capacity of Spatial Multiplexing Systems Using Reconfigurable Cavity-Backed Metasurface Antennas in Clustered MIMO Channels

We propose a spatial multiplexing system using reconfigurable cavity-backed metasurface antennas. The metasurface antennas consist of a printed cavity with dynamically tunable metamaterial radiators patterned on one side and fed by multiple radio frequency ports on the other side (each port representing one communication node), forming a shared aperture. By individual tuning of the radiators, the antennas can generate steerable, concurrent beams that can be adapted to the properties of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channels. In this paper, we present a $2\times 2$ MIMO system with simulated metasurface antennas as transmit and receive antennas operating at 5.9 GHz. We demonstrate that the flexibility in beamforming supported by the metasurface antennas can be used to achieve low spatial correlation and high SNR gain in clustered MIMO channels, leading to a significant improvement of the channel capacity. Numerical studies show 2.36-fold, 2.11-fold enhancements of capacity in MIMO channels with one and two clusters, respectively, compared with an MIMO system consisting of linear dipoles. The MIMO system based on the metasurface antennas can be low cost, low profile, and low power. The metasurface antenna thus has potential applications in small cell networks requiring high data rate under bandwidth, energy, and cost constraints.
Effect of Calcium on the Bioavailability of Dissolved Uranium(VI) in Plant Roots under Circumneutral pH

We integrated field measurements, hydroponic experiments, microscopy, and spectroscopy to investigate the effect of Ca(II) on dissolved U(VI) uptake by plants in 1 mM HCO3– solutions at circumneutral pH. The accumulation of U in plants (3.1–21.3 mg kg–1) from the stream bank of the Rio Paguate, Jackpile Mine, New Mexico served as a motivation for this study. Brassica juncea was the model plant used for the laboratory experiments conducted over a range of U (30–700 μg L–1) and Ca (0–240 mg L–1) concentrations. The initial U uptake followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The initial U uptake rate (V0) ranged from 4.4 to 62 μg g–1 h–1 in experiments with no added Ca and from 0.73 to 2.07 μg g–1 h–1 in experiments with 12 mg L–1 Ca. No measurable U uptake over time was detected for experiments with 240 mg L–1 Ca. Ternary Ca–U–CO3 complexes may affect the decrease in U bioavailability observed in this study. Elemental X-ray mapping using scanning transmission electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectrometry d...
Design of 28 GHz 64-QAM Digital Receiver

This paper presents a MIMO+beamformer architecture for millimeter-wave (mmW) 5G wireless applications. A 64-QAM digital receiver operating at 28 GHz is designed for eventual applications in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) 5G links. The receiver design employs a 32-element linear array, with 850 MHz bandwidth sufficient to support 512-point OFDM modulation. The proposed RF chain is aimed at establishing a wireless communication link with a bit error probability better than 10−5. A design procedure is adopted to provide the required signal to noise ratio (SNR) at the input of the digital demodulator. A link budget and noise analysis has been conducted using AWR Microwave Office to evaluate the system's performance under circuit non-idealities and RF impairments, such as noise, distortion, and mismatch. The 64-QAM constellation is simulated for non-ideal conditions using manufacturer test-data and circuit parameters that are embedded into the AWR Microwave Office model. This paper presents the simulation of a single receiver. Physical implementation, measurement, verification, and extension to OFDM based 32-element beamforming arrays is reserved for future work.
Childhood Psychosis: A Historical Review

The official glossary of the American Psychiatric Association defines psychosis as “a major mental disorder of organic or emotional origin in which the individual’s ability to think, respond emotionally, remember, communicate, interpret reality and behave appropriately is sufficiently impaired so as to interfere grossly with his capacity to meet the ordinary demands of life.” According to this definition, the severity and pervasiveness of the impairment are the two key features of the clinical diagnosis. However, it must be noted that in order to designate any function as deviant or impaired the range and fluctuation of its normal operation must be clearly defined. Also, “the ordinary demands of life,” against which the individual’s shortcomings are to be judged, need to have identifiable criteria. The official classificatory scheme is silent on both of these accounts. Diagnosticians differ in their assessment of the degree of impairment due to their sociocultural expectations of the normative behavior, professional training, philosophical bent or their personal life history.
DNMT3b polymorphism and age of onset of Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer in a Caucasian population

1314 Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant syndrome of familial malignancies resulting from germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Colorectal and endometrial cancers are most frequently observed. A polymorphic C-to-T change in the promoter region of the DNMT3b gene, -149 bp from the transcription start site, greatly increases promoter activity and is associated with increased risk for lung cancer. We studied the influence of this DNMT3b polymorphism on HNPCC age of onset. We determined the DNMT3b genotype of 122 Caucasian MMR mutation carriers from 60 families, of whom 58 had colorectal cancer. The subjects were genotyped by single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing. We tested the association between age of onset and the DNMT3b genotypes by comparing Kaplan-Meier survival curves, evaluating the homogeneity of the curves using the log-rank test and Wilcoxon’s test, and estimating the association using the Cox proportional hazards regression model to adjust for potential demographic confounding factors. The HNPCC patients who were heterozygous developed their colorectal cancer 21 years earlier than HNPCC patients who were homozygous for the wild-type allele. Combining knowledge of an individual’s DNMT3b genotype with information on other genetic and environmental risk factors may improve risk estimates and help to identify individuals who are genetically susceptible to developing HNPCC at an earlier age.
Binary Response Models and Logistic Regression

The focus of this article is on regression models for a binary response. In most fields of application, logistic regression has become the standard method for relating a binary response to a set of covariates. In this article the main features of logistic regression are described and some aspects of interpretation of logistic regression are illustrated with an example. The logistic regression model is first introduced for the simple case where there is only a single predictor variable. This model is compared and contrasted with the classical linear regression model. Later the generalizations to more than one predictor variable are considered. A major emphasis of this article is placed on how logistic regression is used in practice and how the logistic regression coefficients should be interpreted. An example, based on data from the US General Social Survey, is used to illustrate and reinforce the main concepts. Finally, three important extensions of standard logistic regression are briefly reviewed: conditional logistic regression, exact logistic regression, and logistic regression for clustered data.
Housing finance reform: the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been in conservatorship for over a decade. In September 2019, the U.S. Treasury proposed a plan to release the Government Sponsored Enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, from conservatorship through administrative action. This article shows that every action in this plan is much harder in theory than in practice; they will either take longer than anticipated, present more issues than is initially apparent, or is inherently contradictory. As a result, there is substantial doubt this plan can be completed in the next five years.
Examinations, Protocols, and “Auto” Protocols

How is a clinical need translated into a specific imaging service? This chapter describes how radiology departments may try to satisfy the needs captured in the order by offering a range of services, how the details of those services are specified, and how they are translated into the Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) codes that are necessary for billing. Along the way it considers who may create an examination, and who should specify the “protocol” (and when), and gives some suggestions about how to keep those protocols safe and manageable.
New Pathways to the Relic Abundance of Vector-Portal Dark Matter

We fully explore the thermal freezeout histories of a vector-portal dark matter model, in the region of parameter space in which the ratio of masses of the dark photon $A^{\prime}$ and dark matter $\chi$ is in the range $1 \lesssim m_{A^{\prime}}/m_{\chi} \lesssim 2$. In this region $2 \rightarrow 2$ and $3 \rightarrow 2$ annihilation processes within the dark sector, as well as processes that transfer energy between the dark sector and the Standard Model, play important roles in controlling the thermal freezeout of the dark matter. We carefully track the temperatures of all species, relaxing the assumption of previous studies that the dark and Standard Model sectors remain in thermal equilibrium throughout dark matter freezeout. Our calculations reveal a rich set of novel pathways which lead to the observed relic density of dark matter, and we develop a simple analytic understanding of these different regimes. The viable parameter space in our model provides a target for future experiments searching for light (MeV-GeV) dark matter, and includes regions where the dark matter self-interaction cross section is large enough to affect the small-scale structure of galaxies.
Examination of cortically projecting cholinergic neurons following exercise and environmental intervention in a rodent model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Background Up to 1 in 5 infants in the United States are exposed to alcohol prenatally, resulting in neurodevelopmental deficits categorized as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Choline supplementation ameliorates some deficits, suggesting that alcohol exposure (AE) perturbs cholinergic neurotransmission and development. Behavioral interventions, which upregulate cholinergic neurotransmission, rescue cognitive deficits in rodent models of FASD. Methods We investigated the impacts of two interventions (either wheel-running (WR) or "super intervention," WR plus exposure to a complex environment) on cholinergic neuronal morphology in the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM), the source of cortical cholinergic input, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) in a rodent model of FASD. One third of the total 47 male pups received intragastric intubation of ethanol in milk substitute during postnatal days (PD) 4-9. Another third served as sham-intubated procedural controls while the final third served as suckle controls. Rats from each group were exposed to either intervention during PD 30-72. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT+ ) and acetylcholinesterase staining were used to quantify cholinergic neuron number, soma volume, and axon number. Results Our data indicate a main effect of postnatal treatment on ChAT+ neuron number in NBM in adulthood. Post hoc analysis demonstrates that ChAT+ neuron number is reduced in AE compared to suckle control rodents (p Conclusions We examined the cytoarchitectonics of cholinergic neurons in NBM and PFC in adulthood following early postnatal AE and two interventions. We show that AE reduces ChAT+ neuron number in NBM, and this is not mitigated by either intervention.
A Comparison of Social Media Behaviors Between Sexual Minorities and Heterosexual Individuals

Abstract Introduction This study's aim was to identify key differences in social media behaviors of sexual minorities compared to heterosexuals. Importantly, identifying which social media behaviors are more prevalent for sexual minorities helps understand online behavioral differences and promote psychological well-being. Method Participants were recruited online (N = 1294) indicating use of Facebook or Twitter. They completed validated psychosocial questionnaires and responded to questions regarding specific social media behaviors. Univariate comparisons assessed differences in social media behaviors between the sexual minority group (n = 178) and the heterosexual group (n = 1116). A stepwise binary logistic regression model identified the specific social media behaviors that were most associated with the sexual minority group. Results The univariate comparisons identified many differences in social media behavior between the sexual minority and heterosexual groups. Based on the multivariate analyses, the key social media behaviors most associated with the sexual minority group included more hours on Twitter and a higher likelihood of downward social comparisons. Conclusion Due to the pervasiveness of social media, potentially negative impacts associated with the social media behaviors of sexual minorities should be further examined. Additionally, positive outcomes to social media behaviors should also be assessed to promote healthier social media use among sexual minorities.
Adverse childhood experiences and children's development in early care and education programs

Abstract Early care and education (ECE) programs can support resilience among children with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Yet children impacted by ACEs often experience challenges in ECE. To guide interventions to support school-readiness, a better understanding of engagement and development in ECE among children with ACEs is needed. The current study employed multiple methods (observation, teacher-report, direct assessment) to examine children's engagement, social skills and behaviors, self-regulation and early academic skills in relation to their ACEs, including an extended ACEs index that includes experiences outside the home. Participants were 92 preschool-aged children attending various ECE programs (24% home-based). Children's negative engagement was consistently linked to their ACEs. The extended ACEs index was also negatively associated with self-regulation, math, and task engagement. ACEs were not related to social skills, problem behaviors, or positive engagement with teachers. Findings suggest the need for increased efforts to support children with ACEs within their ECE programs.
Money, Power, and Sex

Widespread beliefs that money corrupts intimacy block our ability to describe and explain how money, power, and sex actually interact. The opposite belief - that sex operates like an ordinary market commodity - serves description and explanation no better. The intersection of sex, money, and power, does indeed generate confusion and conflict, but that is precisely because participants are simultaneously negotiating delicate, consequential, interpersonal relations and marking differences between those relations and others which they could easily and dangerously be confused. In everyday social life, people deal with these difficulties with a set of practices we can call good matches. How matches work varies systematically with the durability and breadth of intimate relationships.
Formulation and Characterization of Sinterless Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) Dielectric Nanoparticle Ink for Printed RF and Microwave Applications

Here, we report a previously unreported low-temperature curable barium strontium titanate (BaXSr1−XTiO3) or BST dielectric nanoparticle ink which shows a high dielectric tunability for printed electronics/additive manufacturing applications. The newly formulated BST ink is optimized to print in aerosol jet printers and can be cured at 150°C, which will allow the fabrication of tunable radio-frequency (RF) and microwave (MW) devices on a wide range of flexible substrates. Characterization of high-frequency dielectric properties showed a high dielectric tunability (~ 15% at 10 GHz with 10 V/µm) and a high dielectric constant (~ 16 at 10 GHz). The linear-reversible tunability, which is very important for tunable devices, was confirmed by the tunability testing at 10 GHz. Characterization of temperature-dependent dielectric properties found < 10% variations of the dielectric constant at 10 GHz from −50°C to 125°C for this BST ink. Detailed information on BST nanoparticle characterization, ink formulation and characterization of dielectric properties is discussed.
Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis in Patients with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

Abstract Background : The purpose of the study was to assess the epidemiology, risk factors and outcomes of native vertebral osteomyelitis (NVO) in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). Methods : A retrospective institutional review was conducted at Mayo Clinic, Minnesota. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with SAB who developed NVO from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2020 were included and 3-month follow-up data were abstracted. Data pertaining to patient demographics, risk factors and outcomes were recorded using REDCap. A 1:2 nested case-control analysis was performed, and controls were matched according to age, sex and year of SAB diagnosis. Results : A total of 103 patients had NVO. A majority (60.2%) of patients was male, with a median age of 62.0 years. Thirty-one (30.1%) cases were caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The lumbar spine was most commonly (57.6%) and the most commonly reported comorbid conditions included diabetes mellitus (36.9%) and coronary artery disease (27.2%). Mortality at three-month follow-up was 18.6%. Nested case-control analysis revealed that injection drug use (IDU) and tobacco consumption were significant risk factors associated with NVO, while chronic hemodialysis and chronic liver disease (CLD) were associated with a decreased risk of NVO. Conclusions : Atherosclerotic vascular disease was prominent in our contemporary cohort with NVO in the setting of SAB. Diabetes mellitus, tobacco consumption, older age and male sex likely contributed to this profile. Because IDU was associated with NVO, an increased number of cases should be anticipated among patients with IDU given the ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States.
Endoscopic Endonasal Resection of Cranio-Cervical Junction Chordoma and Ventral Chiari Decompression: A Case Report

BACKGROUND Chiari I malformations secondary to other causes represent a small subset of presenting symptomatic cases. Typically, the primary cause of the malformation is addressed first and results in resolution of the malformation and symptoms. However, in some cases, a patient may present with both a primary Chiari I malformation and another unrelated neurosurgical lesions. OBJECTIVE To present a unique case in which resection of a ventral tumor allowed for spontaneous resolution of a simultaneously noted dorsal Chiari I malformation. METHODS Pertinent data, including presenting symptoms, hospital course, surgical notes, preoperative images, and postoperative images, were collected using the electronic medical record. RESULTS We present a case of a 46-yr-old man with a Chiari I malformation in conjunction with a ventral cranio-cervical junction chordoma. Endoscopic endonasal resection of the chordoma and ventral foramen magnum decompression resulted in radiographic resolution of the Chiari malformation and resolution of his symptoms. Our report represents a rare case of ventral foramen magnum decompression as a treatment for Chiari I malformation. CONCLUSION It is felt that the chordoma mass effect was not the source of the Chiari I malformation. Thus, both ventral and dorsal decompressions of the posterior fossa may be considered for Chiari I decompression in select circumstances.
FDA-approved bone grafts and bone graft substitute devices in bone regeneration

Abstract To induce bone regeneration there is a complex cascade of growth factors. Growth factors such as recombinant BMP-2, BMP-7, and PDGF are FDA-approved therapies in bone regeneration. Although, BMP shows promising results as being an alternative to autograft, it also has its own downfalls. BMP-2 has many adverse effects such as inflammatory complications such as massive soft-tissue swelling that can compromise a patient's airway, ectopic bone formation, and tumor formation. BMP-2 may also be advantageous for patients not willing to give up smoking as it shows bone regeneration success with smokers. BMP-7 is no longer an option for bone regeneration as it has withdrawn off the market. PDGF-BB grafts in studies have shown PDGF had similar fusion rates to autologous grafts and fewer adverse effects. There is also an FDA-approved bioactive molecule for bone regeneration, a peptide P-15. P-15 was found to be effective, safe, and have similar outcomes to autograft at 2 years post-op for cervical radiculopathy due to cervical degenerative disc disease. Growth factors and bioactive molecules show some promising results in bone regeneration, although more research is needed to avoid their adverse effects and learn about the long-term effects of these therapies. There is a need of a bone regeneration method of similar quality of an autograft that is osteoconductive, osteoinductive, and osteogenic. This review covers all FDA-approved bone regeneration therapies such as the “gold standard” autografts, allografts, synthetic bone grafts, and the newer growth factors/bioactive molecules. It also covers international bone grafts not yet approved in the United States and upcoming technologies in bone grafts.
Architecting NP-Dynamic Skybridge

This paper introduces a new fine-grained 3D IC fabric technology called NP-Dynamic Skybridge. Skybridge is a family of 3D IC technologies that provides fine-grained vertical integration. In comparison to the original 3D Skybridge, the NP-Dynamic approach enables a more comprehensive logic style for improved efficiency. It addresses device, circuit, connectivity and manufacturability requirements with an integrated 3D mindset. The NP-Dynamic 3D circuit style enables wide range of logic expressions, simple clocking scheme, and reduces buffer requirements. Architected interconnect framework in 3D provides a high degree of connectivity. Bottom-up evaluations for 16-nm NP-Dynamic Skybridge, considering material properties, nanoscale transport, 3D circuit style, 3D placement and layout reveal up to 50x density and 25x power benefits for 4-bit CLA in comparison to 16-nm CMOS at comparable performance. For 4-bit multiplier, NP-Dynamic Skybridge shows up to 90x density benefit and 8x lower power vs. CMOS.
A Homotopy Approach for Solving Constrained Optimization Problems

A homotopy approach for solving constrained parameter optimization problems is examined. The first order necessary conditions with the conditions on the inequality constraints, represented using a technique due to Mangasarian, are solved. The equations are augmented to avoid singularities which occur when the active constraint changes. The Chow-Yorke algorithm is used to track the solutions to the modified set which result in the solution to the desired problem at the terminal point. A simple example is presented which illustrates the technique and applications to a few fuel optimal orbital transfer problems are presented.
Combination of Decisions by Multiple Classifiers

A technique for combining the results of classifier decisions in a multi-classifier recognition system is presented. Each classifier produces a ranking of a set of classes. The combination technique uses these rankings to determine a small subset of the set of classes that contains the correct class. A group consensus function is then applied to re-rank the elements in the subset. This methodology is especially suited for recognition systems with large numbers of classes where it is valuable to reduce the decision problem to a manageable size before making a final determination about the identity of the image. Experimentation is discussed in which the proposed method is used with a word recognition problem where 40 classifiers are applied to degraded machine-printed word images and where a typical lexicon contains 235 words. A 96.6% correct rate is achieved within the 10 best decisions for 817 test images.
MAPK/ERK-dependent TCR signaling induces ADAM17-mediated processing of TNFR2 by CD8+ T cells (CCR5P.249)

Elevated levels of soluble TNF receptor 2 (sTNFR2) are observed in a variety of human pathophysiological conditions. Following influenza infection in mice, we found that sTNFR2 levels were elevated in both the serum and airways. As the levels of sTNFR2 in the airways correlated with the CD8+ T-cell response, we were interested in the cellular mechanisms by which CD8+ T cells regulate TNFR2 processing. We found that effector CD8+ T cells express TNFR2 on the cell surface and constitutively release sTNFR2. Activation of the cells by TCR stimulation resulted in a temporary increase in processing of TNFR2. This activation-induced increase required both actin remodeling and lipid raft formation and was dependent on MAPK/ERK signaling. Furthermore, we identified ADAM17 as the protease responsible for TNFR2 processing by CD8+ T cells. Inhibition of ADAM17 resulted in an interaction of both membrane-bound TNF-α and TNFR2 on the CD8+ T-cell surface. Moreover, we observed similar activation thresholds for both TNF-α and TNFR2 processing suggesting that sTNFR2 is important for regulation of sTNF-α levels. Furthermore, genetic deletion or in vivo antibody blockade of TNFR2 during influenza infection in mice enhanced the levels of sTNF-α supporting this hypothesis. Taken together, this study elucidates some of the cellular mechanisms regulating TNFR2 processing and demonstrates that TNFR2 plays an important role in regulating TNF-α levels during infection.
Comparative effectiveness of popular diet programs on changes in android and gynoid body composition in women (LB301)

The purpose of this study was to determine if different diet and exercise programs differentially affect android and/or gynoid body composition changes in sedentary women. 127 sedentary women (46±12 yr, 45.5±5% body fat, BMI 35.1±5) were randomized to participate in a control group (C) or the Curves Complete® program with online support (CC), Weight Watchers® Points Plus (WW), Jenny Craig® (JC), or Nutrisystem® Advance Select™ (NS) weight loss programs for 12-wks. DEXA body composition with android (A) and gynoid (G) measurements were obtained. MANOVA revealed a significant time (p<0.001) and group x time (p=0.006) effects. Participants in the CC group generally lost more A-FM (C -8±421; CC -479±462; WW -162±410; JC -275±406; NS -237±456 g, p=0.01), A-BF (C -0.3±2.6; CC -2.9±3.6; WW -0.4±3.7; JC -1.3±3.2; NS -1.2±2.5 %, p<0.04), G-FM (C 73±335; CC -823±658; WW -392±458; JC -709±871; NS -430±631, p<0.001), and G-BF (C 0.0±2.1; CC -3.3±2.9; WW -0.7±2.6; JC -1.6±2.4; NS -0.6±1.9 %, p<0.001) with less loss in...
Cellular and molecular remodeling of inguinal adipose tissue mitochondria by dietary methionine restriction

Dietary methionine restriction (MR) produces a coordinated series of biochemical and physiological responses that improve biomarkers of metabolic health, increase energy expenditure, limit fat accretion and improve overall insulin sensitivity. Inguinal white adipose tissue (IWAT) is a primary target and site of action where the diet initiates transcriptional programs linked to enhancing both synthesis and oxidation of lipid. Using a combination of ex vivo approaches to assess dietary effects on cell morphology and function, we report that dietary MR produced a fourfold increase in multilocular, UCP1-expressing cells within this depot in conjunction with significant increases in mitochondrial content, size and cristae density. Dietary MR increased expression of multiple enzymes within the citric acid cycle, as well as respiratory complexes I, II and III. The physiological significance of these responses, evaluated in isolated mitochondria by high-resolution respirometry, was a significant increase in respiratory capacity measured using multiple substrates. The morphological, transcriptional and biochemical remodeling of IWAT mitochondria enhances the synthetic and oxidative capacity of this tissue and collectively underlies its expanded role as a significant contributor to the overall increase in metabolic flexibility and uncoupled respiration produced by the diet.
Research on Coal and Gangue Identification Method Based on Infrared Thermal Wave Detection

A method based on infrared thermal wave to distinguish coal and waste rock is introduced. Infrared thermal wave detection technology, a fast and effective detection method, can detect different characteristics of coal and gangue on the surface or subsurface. Test showed that coal and waste rock can be distinguished effectively by processing their infrared thermal wave image.
Digital video on personal systems: implementation and performance

The feasibility and performance issues of various types of digital video on personal systems are investigated. We distinguish digital video systems according to compression/decompression hardware, media storage types, and output mixing schemes, and examine them individually. Potential bottlenecks like I/O throughput, CPU cycles, system bus bandwidth are investigated according to different types of video applications. Performance information is collected to provide design guidance, specifically for CDROM-based, network- based, disk-based digital video applications. Finally, we investigate the design alternatives of software-only digital video, and the trade-offs between memory to VRAM transfer rate, cpu cycles for (de)compression, compression quality, and disk I/O throughput.
Study into the cyclization of an epoxy-alcohol to the energetically disfavored product by peptides from non-biased combinatorial libraries

Abstract Catalysis of a reaction to products via an energetically disfavored pathway to be performed by small molecules is not documented to date. To question that, we chose to study the possible cyclization of an epoxy–alcohol to the product interdicted by Baldwin’s rules. For achieving this goal, thousands of randomly chosen peptidic combinatorial library members were screened against a transition state analog of the disfavored reaction. This method led to the discovery of several sequences which could behave as catalysts of the reaction. Complexes between the epoxy–alcohol and certain peptides were studied using molecular modeling to shed light on the binding and mode of action of these peptides and the reason they were selectively chosen. Certain re-synthesized peptides amounted to a 10–15 fold increase in the production of the disfavored product when added to the reaction.
Late messenger RNA production by viable simian virus 40 mutants with deletions in the leader region.

Abstract We have analyzed the structure of simian virus 40 messenger RNA in cells infected with mutant viruses in which DNA encoding various segments of the late leader has been deleted. The results show that large amounts of stable unspliced mRNA may accumulate in the cytoplasm and that some unspliced RNA appears in polyribosomes. The locations of the prominent 5′ ends of mRNA are influenced by relatively remote downstream sequences and bear no fixed relationship to any sequence of the simian virus 40 DNA retained in the mutant virus. Sequences downstream from the leader template may play a role in determining the region in which transcription initiates preferentially. Splices may occur even when nucleotides further than seven residues downstream from the upstream end of the splice are altered, and alternative splices with one junction in common may be differently affected by deletions near the common splice junction.
The influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on immune system aging.

Sex and age-matched wild-type and TCR transgenic mice were infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV) at 6 months of age and followed for 12 additional months to examine aging of the immune system. It was found that viral infection of C57Bl/6 mice resulted in accelerated aging of the immune system as shown by a loss of CD8+28+ cells and an accumulation of KLRG1+ T cells. CMV infection of OT-1 transgenic mice had no influence on immune aging of these mice which nonetheless demonstrated an accumulation of CD8+28− and KLRG1+ T cells with time. CD4+ T cells were unaffected in either strain of mice. Thus, immunological aging was found to be due to both cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic factors. Persistent viral infections may accelerate immunological aging but consideration must be given to individual variation in the aging process.
High-resolution X-ray structure of isoaspartyl dipeptidase from Escherichia coli.

Isoaspartyl dipeptidase from Escherichia coli functions in protein degradation by catalyzing the hydrolysis of β-l-isoaspartyl linkages in dipeptides. The best substrate for the enzyme reported thus far is iso-Asp-Leu. Here we report the X-ray analysis of the enzyme in its resting state and complexed with aspartate to 1.65 and 2.1 A resolution, respectively. The quaternary structure of the enzyme is octameric and can be aptly described as a tetramer of dimers. Each subunit folds into two distinct domains: the N-terminal region containing eight strands of mixed β-sheet and the C-terminal motif that is dominated by a (β,α)8-barrel. A binuclear zinc center is located in each subunit at the C-terminal end of the (β,α)8-barrel. Ligands to the binuclear metal center include His 68, His 70, His 201, His 230, and Asp 285. The two zincs are bridged by a carboxylated lysine residue (Lys 162) and a solvent molecule, most likely a hydroxide ion. The product of the reaction, aspartate, binds to the enzyme by displaci...
The Contingent Negative Variation as an Indicator of Speech Discrimination Difficulty

Recent studies have illustrated the usefulness of the contingent negative variation (CNV) in exploring language processing capabilities. The purpose of this study was to investigate how CNV magnitu...
Formyl peptide receptor-mediated ERK1/2 activation occurs through Gi and is not dependent on β-arrestin1/2

Formyl peptide receptor (FPR) and C5a receptor (C5aR) are chemoattractant G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) involved in the innate immune response against bacterial infections and tissue injury. Like other GPCRs, they recruit beta-arrestin1/2 to the plasma membrane and activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). Previous studies with several GPCRs have suggested that beta-arrestins play an important role as signal transducers by scaffolding signaling molecules such as ERK1/2. This function of the beta-arrestins was not discovered until several years after their role in desensitization and endocytosis had been reported. In this study, we investigated the role of the beta-arrestins in the activation of ERK1/2 and receptor endocytosis. We took advantage of previously described mutants of FPR that have defects in G(i) coupling or beta-arrestin recruitment. The results obtained with the mutant FPRs, as well as experiments using an inhibitor of G(i) and cells overexpressing beta-arrestin2, showed that activation of ERK1/2 takes place through G(i) and is not affected by beta-arrestins. However, overexpression of beta-arrestin2 does enhance FPR sequestration from the cell surface, suggesting a role in desensitization, as shown for many other GPCRs. Experiments with CHO C5aR cells showed similar sensitivity to the G(i) inhibitor as CHO FPR cells, suggesting that the predominant activation of ERK1/2 through G protein may be a common characteristic among chemoattractant receptors.
Significance of the dihedral effect in rapid fuselage-reorientation maneuvers

A study is presented about the role the dihedral effect (rolling moment due to sideslip) can have in fuselagereorientation maneuvers that involve high angles of attack. A mathematical model for attitude maneuvers is developed, which accurately represents the High Angle-of-Attack Research Vehicle, including propulsive moments generated by thrust-vector ing. The fuselage-reorientation problem is posed as an unconstrained timeoptimal control problem, and numerical extremal trajectories are obtained. These trajectories are examined in order to determine if and when the dihedral effect contributes significantly to the maneuvers. Results indicate that for most reorientation maneuvers the dihedral effect is small, and that these minimum-time trajectories occur with small sideslip angles. ARIOUS technological advances have enabled the development of a new generation of combat aircraft, with expanded flight envelope and improved maneuvering capabilities (supermaneuverable aircraft 1"4). These aircraft will be more "agile" and have the ability to operate at extreme angles of attack. One of the enabling technologies is the concept of propulsive control-moments,5-6 generated by thrustvectoring (TV). At higher angles of attack, where the aerodynamic control surfaces are less effective, TV can be used for attitude control, while at lower angles of attack the propulsive control-moments can supplement the aerodynamic control surfaces. In order to gain a tactical advantage in a combat situation, it is desirable to perform the combat maneuvers in minimum time. Modern computers and advanced numerical techniques, along with the accurate aircraft aerodynamic models obtained from wind-tunnel measurements, facilitate numerical study of the problem of optimal tactical maneuvering. The authors have recently reported7 <s an analytical mathematical model for the High Angle-of-Attack Research Vehicle9 (HARV), developed for study of time-optimal fuselage-reorientation maneuvering problems. The model neglects the translational motion of the aircraft (therefore being valid only for rapid attitude maneuvers, during which the aircraft velocity-vector does not change significantly). Results obtained with this model can be used as a starting point for a 6-degree-of-fr eedom model and more complex tactical-maneuvering optimal control problems. In performing minimum-time reorientation maneuvers, one might expect that the use of sideslip to create rolling moment (dihedral effect) might be a useful means to reduce the maneuvering time. In this article we look at this possibility in detail, and show that for a large class of reorientation maneuvers of practical interest and tactical significance the di
Images in cardiovascular medicine. Focal in-stent restenosis near step-up: roles of low and oscillating shear stress?

A 64-year-old man with exercise-induced chest pain underwent coronary angioplasty of his stenosed left anterior descending coronary artery (segments 6 and 7). We recanalized the artery and placed a 3.0×18-mm stent distally and a 3.0×28-mm stent proximally. The residual diameter stenosis at the proximal edge was 26% on quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) showed an in-stent lumen area of 7.5 mm2, which exceeded that immediate proximal of the stent (5.6±0.8 mm2) and caused a so-called “step-up” phenomenon (Figure 1A and 1B, open arrow). Although the stent was well apposed and deployed as indicated by IVUS, the patient presented with worsening anginal symptoms 4 months later; both the angiogram and IVUS showed focal in-stent restenosis at the proximal edge of the proximal stent (78% on QCA) and mild diffuse neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) through the entire length of the stent. Figure 1. A, Lateral angiographic view …
Relations Among Grade 4 Students’ Perceptions of Autonomy, Engagement in Science, and Reading Motivation

The authors extend previous work on students’ perceptions of teachers’ autonomy-enhancing and autonomy-suppressing behaviors in relation to students’ engagement to a more situated context (i.e., two Grade 4 science instructional conditions instead of school in general) and a linguistically diverse population (i.e., Hispanic students). They also examine perceptions of teachers’ behaviors in relation to students’ reading motivation. Students’ perceptions of teacher behaviors predicted students’ feelings toward and engagement in science but relations differed from Assor, Kaplan, and Roth's (2002) work. Reading motivation was most consistently predicted by perceptions of allowing criticism and independent thinking. Perceptions of task and topic relevance did not significantly predict students’ engagement, or motivation when included with the other autonomy-affecting behaviors. These relations were found for all students in the sample, irrespective of language minority status or science instructional condition.
Morphology and pathology of radiation-induced esophagitis. Double-blind study of naproxen vs placebo for prevention of radiation injury.

Radiation-induced esophagitis can cause substantial morbidity. Experiments in lab animals have shown that pretreatment with indomethacin protects the esophagus from radiation damage. We conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial of naproxen vs placebo in patients undergoing thoracic radiation therapy for lung cancer. Twenty-eight patients were enrolled, of which 26 completed the study. Sixteen patients were given a short course of radiation (30 Gy/10 fractions/2 weeks), and 10 patients were given a longer course and a larger dose (40–50 Gy/25 fractions/5 weeks). Half of the irradiated patients were treated with naproxen, 375 mg, taken orally twice a day, and half were given an identical placebo. All patients were given ranitidine 300 mg, taken orally once a day. Study drugs were taken throughout the course of radiation. Endoscopy with esophageal biopsies and brushings was performed before and on the last day of treatment. Patients kept a daily diary for symptom scoring. Symptoms such as chest pain, dysphagia, odynophagia, and/or heartburn were reported in 15 patients from both subgroups, resulting in diet restriction to liquids only in eight patients and requiring temporary discontinuation of radiation therapy in one of them. Approximately half the patients in each subgroup developed esophagitis, usually mild and usually limited to the proximal esophagus. Severity of symptoms was not proportional to the severity of esophagitis. Candidiasis was documented in eight patients, but only four had symptoms that were severe in one. We conclude that acute radiation injury to the esophagus is observed in approximately half the patients receiving radiation therapy and can result in substantial morbidity. Treatment with a prostaglandin inhibitor, naproxen, was not protective. Esophagitis may be complicated by esophageal candidiasis, but its contribution to the patient's morbidity is unclear.
Stochastic optimization using a sparse grid collocation scheme

Abstract In computational sciences, optimization problems are frequently encountered in solving inverse problems for computing system parameters based on data measurements at specific sensor locations, or to perform design of system parameters. This task becomes increasingly complicated in the presence of uncertainties in boundary conditions or material properties. The task of computing the optimal probability density function (PDF) of parameters based on measurements of physical fields of interest in the form of a PDF, is posed as a stochastic optimization problem. This stochastic optimization problem is solved by dividing it into two problems—an auxiliary optimization problem to construct stochastic space representations from the PDF of measurement data, and a stochastic optimization problem to compute the PDF of problem parameters. The auxiliary optimization problem is solved using a downhill simplex method, whilst a gradient based approach is employed for solving the stochastic optimization problem. The gradients required for stochastic optimization are defined, using appropriate stochastic sensitivity problems. A computationally efficient sparse grid collocation scheme is utilized to compute the solution of these stochastic sensitivity problems. The implementation discussed, requires minimum intrusion into existing deterministic solvers, and it is thus applicable to a variety of problems. Numerical examples involving stochastic inverse heat conduction problems, contamination source identification problems and large deformation robust design problems are discussed.