cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary genomics reveals the premetazoan origin of opposite gating polarity in animal-type voltage-gated ion channels

Abstract Electrical signaling in animals ensures the rapid and accurate transmission of information, often carried by voltage-gated Na+, Ca2 + and K+ channels that are activated by membrane depolarization . In heart and neurons, a distinct type of ion channel called the hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-regulated (HCN) channel is activated by membrane hyperpolarization. Recent genomic studies have revealed that animal-type voltage-gated Na + channels (Liebeskind BJ, et al. 2011. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A . 108:9154) had evolved in choanoflagellates , one of the unicellular relatives of animals. To date, HCN channels have been considered to be animal-specific. Here, we demonstrate the presence of an HCN channel homolog (SroHCN) in the choanoflagellate protist Salpingoeca rosetta . SroHCN contains highly conserved functional domains and sequence motifs that are correlated with the unique biophysical activities of HCN channels. These findings provide novel genomic insights into the evolution of complex electrical signaling before the emergence of multicellular animals.
What do we know about chrysidoid (Hymenoptera) relationships

The phylogeny of the superfamily Chrysidoidea is reviewed. Relationships among the families proposed by Carpenter (1986) were confirmed by Brothers & Carpenter (1993). The status of knowledge of phylogenetic relationships within families is assessed. Cladistic analyses have been undertaken only within Plumariidae (by Roig-Alsina 1994; a manual analysis of genera), Chrysididae (by Kimsey & Bohart 1991; a manual analysis of subfamilies and tribes, and genera within subfamilies) and Bethylidae (by Sorg 1988; a manual analysis of subfamilies, and genus groups within three of these; and by Polaszek & Krombein 1994; a quantitative cladistic analysis of the genera of Bethylinae). These analyeses are critically evaluated, and the current classifications within all the families examined cladistically. Generic relationships are investigated within Scolebythidae and Embolemidae; subfamily relationships are investigated within Sclerogibbidae and Dryinidae.
The evolution of functional bracing of fractures

Functional fracture bracing, described in 1967,[1][1] was inspired by the patellar-tendon-bearing prosthesis which had recently been developed for below-knee amputees. This prosthesis had eliminated the traditional thigh corset and allowed the transfer of weight-bearing stresses from the soft
The Design of Discrete N-Section and Continuously Tapered Symmetrical Microwave TEM Directional Couplers

A method is presented for the computer-aided design of either N-section discrete or continuously tapered symmetrical microwave couplers. The coupling distribution function k(x) is parametrized in the form k(x, p/spl ovbr/), and a special optimization process (of the generalized Remez type) is used to determine the set of parameters p/spl ovbr/ which produce an optimum power coupling response. Standard parametric forms based on an approximate Fourier analysis as well as more general spline parametric forms for k(x, p/spl ovbr/) are developed and illustrated.
Flavonoids from Lupinus texensis and Their Free Radical Scavenging Activity

Seventeen flavonoids including one new compound were isolated from Texas bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis), the state flower of Texas. Their structures were determined by extensive nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analyses. High-performance liquid chromatography analytic method for simultaneous determination of the 17 compounds was established and validated. Eleven isolated flavonoids were first evaluated for their free radical scavenging activity using α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay and they showed activity with EC(50) 48.6-172.5 µg mL(-1).
MID1 Mediates Acute Asthma Exacerbations

Asthma leaves its victims breathless—from young to old—and shows no signs of letting up. Asthma-related health care costs are rising, and in the United States, nine patients die each day from asthma. Rhinovirus (RV)–induced acute asthma exacerbations account for 60 to 80% of asthma attacks globally, a problem that remains without any current viable therapy. Scientists struggle to decipher asthma’s pathogenic mechanisms while continuing to search for new therapies. Now, Collison et al. have identified a new protein that participates in the pathophysiology of asthma: the microtubule-associated E3 ubiquitin ligase midline 1 (MID1). This protein is important in embryonic development yet, surprisingly, may play a role in mediating asthma. Mutations in MID1 are associated with inherited malformations characterized by midline facial defects, such as cleft lip or cleft palate. Because acute exacerbations of allergic asthma are frequently associated with RV infection, the authors used the house dust mite (HDM) and RV infection mouse models to assess the role of MID1 and innate immune pathways involved in asthma attacks. The authors showed that after exposure to HDM or RV infection, MID1 is up-regulated in bronchial epithelium via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). The MID1 protein also decreases protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity, an important enzyme that inhibits downstream proinflammatory transcription factors, including nuclear factor–κβ activity. The authors also found that inhibition of MID1 or agonist activation of PP2A in HDM-exposed mice reduced airway hyperreactivity (AHR) and allergic inflammation. Furthermore, MID1 inhibition limited RV-induced exacerbation of allergic inflammation and AHR. Going a step further, the authors showed that MID1 was up-regulated in primary human bronchial epithelial cells upon HDM and RV exposure, and that this up-regulation correlated with several markers of innate immune activation. These findings are meaningful because they identify MID1 as an important player in allergic inflammation and innate immune pathway activation. From a clinical standpoint, this highlights a possible mechanism to explain RV-induced acute asthma exacerbations, for which MID1 may be a viable therapeutic target needing further study. If true, the translational impact of this work could be quite important. It is tragic that patients, both young and old, continue to die every day from asthma. Because acute exacerbations are the conduit that can lead to asthma deaths, this discovery may be an exciting next chapter in asthma research. A. Collison et al. , The E3 ubiquitin ligase midline 1 promotes allergen and rhinovirus-induced asthma by inhibiting protein phosphatase 2A activity. Nat. Med., published online 20 January 2013 (10.1038/nm.3049). [[Full text]][1] [1]: http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nm.3049.html
Commentary On “Theory-led design of instruments and representations in learning analytics: Developing a novel tool for orchestration of online collaborative learning”

This commentary reflects on the contributions to learning analytics and theory by a paper that describes how multiple theoretical frameworks were woven together to inform the creation of a new automated discourse analysis tool. The commentary highlights the contributions of the original paper, provides some alternative approaches, and touches on issues of sustainability and scalability of learning analytics innovations.
Effect of Zinc Deficiency on Histidine Metabolism in Rats

The effects of feeding a diet deficient in zinc (Zn) to male rats on histidine metabolism were studied. Results showed that significantly higher percentages of DL-histidine-carboxyl-14C and L-histidine-2-(ring)-14C were oxidized by Zn-deficient rats. The incorporation of L-histidine-2-(ring)-14C into the proteins of skin, muscle, and kidney were significantly reduced in Zn-deficient rats as compared to Zn-supplemented rats. Conversely, the radioactivity of liver protein of Zn-deficient rats was significantly increased. Zn deficiency increased the activities of liver histidase and urocanase but had no effect on the activity of liver histidine-pyruvate transaminase. The increases of enzymatic activities were not due to food intake and can be prevented upon Zn repletion. The liver of Zn-deficient rats contained normal amount of histidine but a reduced quantity of histamine. The results on urinary excretion indicated that Zn-deficient rats discharged the same amounts of one-methyl and three-methyl histidine as Zn-supplemented pair-fed rats. Overall findings support in principle the concept that Zn deficiency results in disturbances of protein metabolism and also indicate that Zn is an important factor in regulating histidine metabolism through the urocanic acid pathway.
The Public's Role in Seismic Design Provisions:

Seismic design provisions in the United States reflect structural engineers' experience, technical capabilities, and judgment of what is in the public's interest. Yet the American Society of Civil ...
Parallels in Neural and Human Communication Networks

The model of the brain—particularly the human brain—as a computer is widespread in the modern age. In keeping with most analogies by which complex systems behavior has been understood, this model has provided some useful conceptualizations of brain processing while leaving unanswered the emergent property of the mind. This chapter will explore the similarities and differences in the potential power of both neural and human communication systems to solve complex problems by working with the framework of complex dynamic systems analysis. To this end, the chapter will explore the basic computational elements of each of these two diverse systems and the modes of communication available to each.
Nurses as Leaders in Disaster Preparedness and Response-A Call to Action

Purpose To develop a vision for the future of disaster nursing, identify barriers and facilitators to achieving the vision, and develop recommendations for nursing practice, education, policy, and research. Design and Methods A series of semistructured conference calls were conducted with 14 national subject matter experts to generate relevant concepts regarding national nursing workforce preparedness. An invitational daylong workshop hosted by the Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was held in December 2014 to expand and refine these concepts. Workshop participants included 70 nurses, emergency managers, and a broad range of public health professionals. Conference call notes and audiotapes of the workshop were transcribed and thematic analysis conducted to outline a vision for the future of nursing in disaster preparedness and response, and to articulate an agenda for nursing practice, education, policy, and research to achieve that vision. Findings The group developed a vision for the future of disaster nursing, and identified current barriers and opportunities to advance professional disaster nursing. A broad array of recommendations for nursing practice, education, policy, and research, as well as implementation challenges, are summarized in this article. Conclusions This project represents an important step toward enhancing nurses’ roles as leaders, educators, responders, policymakers, and researchers in disaster preparedness and response. Nurses and the health and human service organizations that employ them are encouraged to engage in an expansive national dialogue regarding how to best incorporate the vision and recommendations into their individual lives and the organizations for which they work. Clinical Relevance Nurses comprise the largest healthcare workforce, and opportunities exist to strengthen disaster readiness, enhance national surge capacity, and build community resiliency to disasters.
Activation of raphe nuclei triggers rapid and distinct effects on parallel olfactory bulb output channels

The serotonergic raphe nuclei are involved in regulating brain states over timescales of minutes and hours. We examined more rapid effects of raphe activation on two classes of principal neurons in the mouse olfactory bulb, mitral and tufted cells, which send olfactory information to distinct targets. Brief stimulation of the raphe nuclei led to excitation of tufted cells at rest and potentiation of their odor responses. While mitral cells at rest were also excited by raphe activation, their odor responses were bidirectionally modulated, leading to improved pattern separation of odors. In vitro whole-cell recordings revealed that specific optogenetic activation of raphe axons affected bulbar neurons through dual release of serotonin and glutamate. Therefore, the raphe nuclei, in addition to their role in neuromodulation of brain states, are also involved in fast, sub-second top-down modulation similar to cortical feedback. This modulation can selectively and differentially sensitize or decorrelate distinct output channels.
Minimal systems

A minimal state-space system can be obtained in a fairly simple manner from any multi-input-multi-output transfer function. Although many complex ways of accomplishing this are available, the author demonstrates a method simple in concept and very visual in application. Systems with simple poles, complex poles, and repeated poles are considered. Examples are used to illustrate the proposed approach. >
Occurrence of Abnormal Serum Magnesium Concentrations in Uremic and Nonuremic Patients Treated With Digoxin

We measured magnesium concentrations in serum samples from normal persons and from uremic and nonuremic patients under long-term treatment with digoxin. The average serum magnesium level in nonuremic patients receiving digoxin was significantly lower than that in the control group. Approximately 25% of the patients receiving digoxin experienced hypomagnesemia, regardless of renal function status. Twenty-seven percent of the patients receiving digoxin who had impaired renal function had hypermagnesemia; 23% had hypomagnesemia. Clinicians treating patients receiving digoxin therapy should be aware of the frequent occurrence of hypomagnesemia in that population. Because of the role of magnesium as an activator of sodium, potassium-adenosine triphosphatase, hypomagnesemia may be associated with the symptoms of digitalis toxicity.
Effects of Compressed Speech on Comprehension of Community College Students

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of various rates of compressed speech–0 percent (175 words per minute), 33 percent (275 words per minute), and 57 percent (400 words per minute)–instruction upon the listening comprehension of two types of community college students, developmental and non-developmental. These two classifications of students were randomized into one of three groups. The three experimental groups heard the treatment material presented at a designated compression rate, and took a treatment posttest. All experimental subjects took a delayed posttest two weeks following treatment. The results of the data analysis revealed significant differences in type of treatment, type of student, and time of testing.
Asymptotic optimal rate of convergence for an adaptive estimation procedure

Stochastic recursive estimation algorithms for adaptive filtering is considered and a procedure with averaging of the iterates is suggested. In contrast with the traditional approach, two sequences are constructed. One is the iterates of the estimates obtained from an ordinary adaptive filtering algorithm with slowly varying gains, and the other one is the arithmetic average of the aforementioned iterates. It is shown that under weak conditions, the algorithm with averaging has asymptotic optimal rate of convergence.
Using quantum operators to describe orbital angular momentum of Hermite Gaussian modes

Orbital angular momentum of Hermite Gaussian modes is determined using algebraic quantum operators. A vortex profile of the corresponding modes is clearly defined. Our approach is applicable in vacuum as well as in homogenous turbulence.
Primary structure of rat HGF receptor and induced expression in glomerular mesangial cells

The c-met protooncogene encodes a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). It has been widely suggested that HGF and its receptor constitute a paracrine signaling system, in which mesenchymally derived cells produce ligand that binds to the receptor predominantly expressed on cells of epithelial origin. In this study, we have isolated and completely sequenced the entire coding region of c-met cDNA from the rat kidney. The nucleotide sequence of the rat c-met cDNA revealed that the HGF receptor is encoded within single open-reading frame as 190 kDa of a transmembrane glycoprotein consisting of 1,382 amino acids. Determination of c-met mRNA levels in various tissues revealed a widespread expression of c-met with the highest levels in kidney, lung, and liver. We found simultaneous induction of both HGF and its receptor gene expression by interleukin-6 (IL-6) in primary cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells. The expression of HGF and c-met was remarkably stimulated following incubation of rat mesangial cells with IL-6, in a time- and dose-dependent manner Our data suggest that autocrine action of HGF may be achieved in vivo through simultaneous induction of both HGF and its receptor expression in renal mesenchymal cells.
Hookworm disease in Punan village of Xiangcheng district of Zhangzhou

Objective To investigate the prevalence of hookworm infection for Punan village of Xiangcheng district.Methods Improved Kato's thick smear method was used for detecting the hook eggs.The severely infected people were de-wormed and treated.The parasites were collected for species identification and the hookworm larvae in the soil were isolated,cultured and identified.Results 4 812 persons were checked.1 601 persons were infected with hookworm,with the infection rate of 33.27%.20 persons were de-wormed and treated.326 hookworms were collected,and all were identified as American hookworm larvae.20 soil samples were examined.12 of them contained hookworm larvae,and they were identified as American hookworm larvae.Conclusion Punan village of Xiangcheng district has a high prevalence of hookworm infection with American hookworm.Therefore,it is very important to strengthen the health education and carry out control measures.
Identification of monomeric α-macroglobulin proteinase inhibitors in birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, and purification and characterization of a monomeric α-macroglobulin proteinase inhibitor from the American bullfrog Rana catesbiana

The alpha-macroglobulins are classified as broad-spectrum inhibitors because of their ability to entrap proteinases of different specificities and catalytic class. Tetrameric and dimeric alpha-macroglobulins have been identified in a wide variety of organisms including those as primitive as the mollusc Octopus vulgaris; however, monomeric alpha-macroglobulin proteinase inhibitors have been previously identified only in rodents. The monomeric alpha-macroglobulin proteinase inhibitors are believed to be analogous to the evolutionary precursor of the multimeric members of this family exemplified by the tetrameric human alpha 2-macroglobulin. Until now, monomeric alpha-macroglobulin proteinase inhibitors have only been identified in rodents and have therefore been considered an evolutionary anomaly. However, in this report we have utilized several sensitive assays to screen various plasmas and sera for the presence of monomeric alpha-macroglobulins, and our results suggest that monomeric alpha-macroglobulin proteinase inhibitors are present in organisms belonging to the avian, reptilian, amphibian and mammalian classes of the chordate phylum. This indicates that these proteins are more widespread than previously recognized and that their presence in rodents is not an anomaly. To demonstrate further that the identified proteins were indeed monomeric alpha-macroglobulin proteinase inhibitors, we purified the monomeric alpha-macroglobulin from the American bullfrog Rana catesbeiana. We conclude that this protein is a monomer of 180 kDa on the basis of its behaviour on (i) pore-limit gel electrophoresis, (ii) non-reducing and reducing SDS/PAGE and (iii) gel-filtration chromatography. In addition, we demonstrate that this protein is an alpha-macroglobulin proteinase inhibitor by virtue of (i) its ability to inhibit proteinases of different catalytic class, (ii) the presence of a putative internal beta-cysteinyl-gamma-glutamyl thioester and (iii) an inhibitory mechanism characterized by steric protection of the proteinase active site and by sensitivity to small primary amines. The frog monomeric alpha-macroglobulin is structurally and functionally similar to the well-characterized monomeric alpha-macroglobulin proteinase inhibitor rat alpha 1-inhibitor-3.
Role of the Vagus in AF Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Applications

The autonomic nervous system, especially the vagus (parasympathetic) nerve, is postulated to play an important role in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the supporting experimental evidence was mostly obtained in animals without concomitant deceases, which are usually AF resistant and require vagal stimulation to induce and maintain AF. Accordingly, it is self-evident that vagal denervation would prevent or reduce AF inducibility in such a model. On the other hand, the role of the vagus in patients with AF is more circumstantial and less clear. This chapter reviews current evidence for the role of the vagus in the pathophysiology of AF, the potentials and controversies of the role of vagal denervation during AF ablation, and the possibility for utilization of vagal nerve stimulation to control the ventricular rate during AF.
Asymmetrische Organokatalyse: α,β-ungesättigte Acylammoniumsalze erweisen sich als immer nützlicher

Wahrend Acylammoniumsalze gut untersucht sind, fanden chirale α,β-ungesattigte Acylammoniumsalze deutlich weniger Beachtung. Zwar sind diese Intermediate geeignete Synthone, die ausgehend von gangigen ungesattigten Sauren und Saurechloriden leicht zuganglich sind und drei reaktive Zentren aufweisen, doch ist ihre Anwendung in der organischen Synthese wegen des Fehlens geeigneter chiraler Lewis-Basen fur ihre Herstellung eingeschrankt. In den vergangenen Jahren wurden neue Einsatzmoglichkeiten fur chirale ungesattigte Acylammoniumsalzen entwickelt und somit die einzigartige Reaktivitat dieser Intermediate aufgezeigt, was zur Entwicklung eines breitgefacherten Spektrums an katalytischen asymmetrischen Reaktionen, darunter auch Organokaskadenprozesse, fuhrte. Dieser Kurzaufsatz beleuchtet das aktuelle und wachsende Interesse an diesen Intermediaten, das eine weitere Erforschung ihres ungenutzten Potenzials zur asymmetrischen Organokaskaden-Katalyse auslosen konnte. Ein kursorischer Vergleich wird zu verwandten ungesattigten Iminium- und Acylazolium-Intermediaten gezogen.
The Historical Value of Parish Histories

Parish histories are a vital resource for those working in the field of U.S. Catholic history. Though often perceived as narrow institutional accounts, they provide important insights into Catholic community life, faith, and practice. As part of an initiative of the Catholic Research Resource Alliance, this essay provides a brief background on parish histories as a genre and offers some reflections on the ways that collections of parish histories can be employed by scholars.
Medical imaging feasibility in body fluids using Markov chains

A relatively wide field-of-view and high resolution imaging is necessary for navigating the scope within the body, inspecting tissue, diagnosing disease, and guiding surgical interventions. As the large number of modes available in the multimode fibers (MMF) provides higher resolution, MMFs could replace the millimeters-thick bundles of fibers and lenses currently used in endoscopes. However, attributes of body fluids and obscurants such as blood, impose perennial limitations on resolution and reliability of optical imaging inside human body. To design and evaluate optimum imaging techniques that operate under realistic body fluids conditions, a good understanding of the channel (medium) behavior is necessary. In most prior works, Monte-Carlo Ray Tracing (MCRT) algorithm has been used to analyze the channel behavior. This task is quite numerically intensive. The focus of this paper is on investigating the possibility of simplifying this task by a direct extraction of state transition matrices associated with standard Markov modeling from the MCRT computer simulations programs. We show that by tracing a photon’s trajectory in the body fluids via a Markov chain model, the angular distribution can be calculated by simple matrix multiplications. We also demonstrate that the new approach produces result that are close to those obtained by MCRT and other known methods. Furthermore, considering the fact that angular, spatial, and temporal distributions of energy are inter-related, mixing time of Monte- Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) for different types of liquid concentrations is calculated based on Eigen-analysis of the state transition matrix and possibility of imaging in scattering media are investigated. To this end, we have started to characterize the body fluids that reduce the resolution of imaging [1].
Enhancing Future Children: How It Might Happen, Whether It Should

If Savulescu and Kahane’s (Bioethics 23(5): 274–90, 2009) Principle of Procreative Beneficence were implemented regarding cognitive enhancement, the result would be highly impoverishing for future children. For, apart from being inadequate to rationality itself, advocates’ accounts of cognitive enhancement sever reason from the input to judgments and decision-making that other faculties provide. When handling desire, supporters of cognitive enhancement frame conflicts between reason and the nonrational in terms of self-governance or akratic failure, depending on which one triumphs. Further, so-called negative emotions are treated as simply deleterious and hostile to the rational. Alliances of the nonrational with reason toward shared ends are hence unthinkable. Having critiqued advocates’ views directly, I amplify my assessment through engagement with Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. Per Savulescu and Kahane (Bioethics 23(5), 289, 2009), to know how to direct enhancement endeavors, “we need to form reasonable opinions on difficult questions about the nature of well-being and the good life.” Thus far, however, enhancement supporters have been largely silent on this crucial matter. Because the debate over enhancement is ultimately over what values our views of flourishing embody, it should be recast so that this crux is squarely at the fore. What is more, for our own and our children’s sakes, as we embark on this reframing, we would do well to bear in mind Aristotle’s insights about the nonrational in relation to reason and his unwavering focus on the human “that for the sake of which” (hou heneka) all that we do is, perforce, undertaken.
HMM-based estimation of unreliable spectral components for noise robust speech recognition.

This paper presents a novel approach for reconstructing unreliable spectral components, which utilizes HMM-based missing feature algorithms, and applies them to noise robust speech recognition. The proposed technique uses the forwardbackward algorithm to estimate corrupt spectrographic data based on nearby reliable features, noisy observations, and on an underlying statistical model. The estimation process can be applied based on intra-channel information, intra-feature information, or a combination of both. The overall system is shown to provide vast improvements for the Consonant Challenge Database [1], for both MFCCs and PLP features, when using an oracle mask. Moreover, through downsampling of statistical models [2], the required complexity of the system is greatly reduced with negligible effects on results.
Bring Back the Moral Wrestler

Each branch of social science bears within it an implicit characterization of human nature. To an economist, humans are self-interest maximizers; to a behavioral economist, they are hopelessly irrational; to an anthropologist, they are products of a cultural time and place; to a sociologist, they are units in broad social webs and power structures; and so on. Each discipline makes a contribution to the aggregated conception of what constitutes human nature, but none can convincingly account for humans as “moral wrestlers,” as creatures that are concerned about themselves as well as questions of right versus wrong. Historically, the world’s major religions have carried the torch for man’s moral nature. Since the Enlightenment project has not sent religion off into obsolescence as promised, the practitioners of human-based sciences can still today learn from the religious conception of humans as moral wrestlers. This chapter calls on social scientists to break with their disciplines’ consensuses and refocus their image of human nature.
A network meta-analysis of the PD(L)-1 inhibitors in the salvage treatment of urothelial bladder cancer.

Aim To determine which of the approved immune checkpoint inhibitors is the optimal treatment in metastatic urothelial bladder cancer. Methods & materials Only the pivotal Phase III trials of second-line metastatic urothelial bladder cancer were included in this network meta-analysis. Results This NMA included three pooled trials (NCT00315237, NCT02256436 and NCT02302807) of 1125 participants. Pembrolizumab was the only treatment with positive effect on overall survival compared with the best supportive care. The treatment discontinuation rates due to adverse events of the pembrolizumab and atezolizumab did not differ from that of the best supportive care. C onclusion: Our results confirmed the superiority of pembrolizumab in the management of metastatic urothelial bladder cancer.
Prolonged increase in ser31 tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation in substantia nigra following cessation of chronic methamphetamine

Abstract Methamphetamine (MA) exposure may increase the risk of motor or cognitive impairments similar to Parkinson’s disease (PD) by middle age. Although damage to nigrostriatal or mesoaccumbens dopamine (DA) neurons may occur during or early after MA exposure, overt PD-like symptoms at a younger age may not manifest due to compensatory mechanisms to maintain DA neurotransmission. One possible compensatory mechanism is increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) phosphorylation. In the rodent PD 6-OHDA model, nigrostriatal lesion decreases TH protein in both striatum and substantia nigra (SN). However, DA loss in the SN is significantly less than that in the striatum. An increase in ser31 TH phosphorylation in the SN may increase TH activity in response to TH loss. To determine if similar compensatory mechanisms may be engaged in young mice after MA exposure, TH expression, phosphorylation, and DA tissue content were evaluated, along with dopamine transporter expression, 21 days after cessation of MA (24 mg/kg, daily, 14 days). DA tissue content was unaffected by the MA regimen in striatum, nucleus accumbens, SN, or ventral tegmental area (VTA), despite decreased TH protein in SN and VTA. In the SN, but not striatum, ser31 phosphorylation increased over 2-fold. This suggests that increased ser31 TH phosphorylation may be an inherent compensatory mechanism to attenuate DA loss against TH loss, similar to that in an established PD model. These results also indicate the somatodendritic compartments of DA neurons are more vulnerable to TH protein loss than terminal fields following MA exposure.
From “Child Saving” to “Child Development”?

What next for the field we now know as “child welfare”? Federal pressure, federal funding, court actions, periodic citizen advocacy and occasional citizen or agency recourse to the courts have created a system of sorts, a system constantly undergoing change or viewed as poorly implemented. Now, the leadership of our public social services, supportive citizens and foundations, policy researchers, and, ultimately, federal, state and local governments need to think ahead strategically. Their potentially field-altering question becomes: how are we to be organized as private and public sectors around youth concerns? What kind of evolution of child welfare are we to advocate and implement? How are we to organize, finance, conduct and empower what is indisputably an important branch of social work? Pursued far enough, the question becomes: does it make optimum sense that the child welfare systems of London, Washington, Minneapolis, and San Francisco serve as the models for cities such as Harare, Kabul, New Delhi, and Johannesburg?
Microexpressions and Deception

There has been much interest in microexpressions and deception with the advent of recent popular television programs touting their abilities to predict deception. The research picture is considerably more complicated, but at the same time considerably more straight forward. Microexpressions are brief in duration facial expressions of emotion. They are brief due to conflicting brain signals associated with pyramidal and extrapyramidal motor system activity. These microexpressions last less than 1/2 a second and can be fragmentary. They as indicators of emotional states, they can predict deception when the individual’s emotional state contradicts their claimed or stated emotional state. Research has shown that they occur often in deception and that individuals who are good at identifying these microexpressions are also good at identifying deception. Research also shows that individuals can be trained to better recognize these expressions and that has implications for law enforcement, medicine, security, and other situations where reading the true emotional states of others may be important.
An Autonomous Intelligent Driving Simulation Tutor for Driver Training and Remediation: A Concept Paper

An intelligent tutoring model for use in a driving simulation training platform is proposed. Driving simulators by themselves cannot teach and staffing driving simulators with live trainers limits their ability to reach a wide audience. Research has shown that customized feedback, coupled with active practice in a simulator is very effective in changing a driver’s behavior for the better. A driving simulation training program which utilizes an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) can diagnose driver errors, tailor feedback to the student’s specific needs, determine when a student has mastered a specific skill set and can provide remediation as necessary. A brief discussion of basic ITS architecture is provided. An ITS model that has been successful in teaching individual skills in other domains (such as mental rotation) is applied to driving simulator instruction. The various critical components of the ITS, including the domain model, student model and tutoring model, are discussed in detail and a working example provided.
The Controlled Release of 5-Fluorouracil from Acrylate Copolymers of 1-(N-2-Ethylmethacrylcarbamoyl)-5-Fluorouracil Monomer

The preparation, polymerization and copolymerization of a novel methacrylate type monomer containing 5-fluorouracil is described. The methyl and butyl acrylate copolymers show zero order release behavior, and can deliver a constant level of 5-fluorouracil for time periods greater than 240 hours. These zero order release profiles were obtained without any special membranes or device designs, and were characteristic of the polymeric material itself.
A revision of the Miconia ulmarioides complex (Melastomataceae: Miconieae)

A taxonomic revision is presented for ten species that comprise the Miconia ulmarioides complex (Melastomataceae: Miconieae). This group is characterized by four-merous flowers with four-locular ovaries, short, stout, pink to fuchsia anthers, punctiform or truncated styles and short outer calyx teeth. All species in the group are small trees and shrubs from the northern Andes in Colombia and Venezuela and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Coastal Cordillera of Venezuela, with one species (M. nubicola) endemic to Jamaica. Leandra ossaeoides is transferred to Miconia (as M. ossaeoides) and M. albertii is synonymized under M. ulmarioides. We designate new lectotypes for M. arbutifolia, M. spinulosa, M. inaperta, M. octoscenidium, M. spinulosa var. subintegrifolia, M. ulmarioides, M. aegrotans, and M. ulmarioides var. fendleri. Descriptions, morphological discussions, key to taxa, and photographs of key features are included for all species.
Suicide and the Human Service Professions in the Twenty-First Century: Current Issues and Future Directions

AbstractFive current issues of importance to human service professionals and the field of suicidology are examined, including Joiner’s theory of suicide, suicide in the LGBT population, bullying and suicide, the relationship between firearm availability and suicidal risk, and suicide in the military. Implications and recommendations for the human service professions are addressed.
Therapeutic Direction Versus Adverse Outcomes in Children Undergoing Lung Biopsy.

Abstract Background Lung biopsy is part of the diagnostic workup for multiple diseases. Although the morbidity of the procedure has decreased with the use of thoracoscopy, lung biopsy still holds substantial risk for patients. Therefore, we evaluated the likelihood of lung biopsies impacting treatment compared to complications. Material and methods This was a single-institution, retrospective chart review of patients less than aged 18 y undergoing lung biopsy from 2010 to 2016. Details of demographics, hospital course, adverse events, complications, pathology, and follow-up were recorded. All values are reported as medians with interquartile range. Results Thirty-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Median age was 7 y old (interquartile range 1.4, 15). Eighty-seven percent (33) of biopsies were performed thoracoscopically, with a 3% conversion rate. Adverse events occurred in 25% (9) of cases with the majority involving prolonged respiratory failure (n = 7). Complications occurred in 16% (6) of cases including pneumothorax (13%, n = 5) and cardiac arrest (3%, n = 1). A third of these complications (n = 2) required reoperation, and both were decompressions of tension pneumothoraces. Pathology established a diagnosis in 62% (n = 23) of cases, yet treatment was changed in only 43% of cases. No preoperative variables were associated with the pathology establishing a diagnosis or changing treatment. Conclusions Lung biopsy for questionable pulmonary disease changed treatment in less than half of cases, with significant perioperative morbidity. Careful consideration should therefore be given to who would benefit most from lung biopsy.
Non-destructive detection of matrix stabilization correlates with enhanced mechanical properties of self-assembled articular cartilage.

Tissue engineers rely on expensive, time-consuming, and destructive techniques to monitor the composition, microstructure, and function of engineered tissue equivalents. A non-destructive solution to monitor tissue quality and maturation would greatly reduce costs and accelerate the development of tissue-engineered products. The objectives of this study were to (a) determine whether matrix stabilization with exogenous lysyl oxidase-like protein-2 (LOXL2) with recombinant hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein-1 (LINK) would result in increased compressive and tensile properties in self-assembled articular cartilage constructs, (b) evaluate whether label-free, non-destructive fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) could be used to infer changes in both biochemical composition and biomechanical properties, (c) form quantitative relationships between destructive and non-destructive measurements to determine whether the strength of these correlations is sufficient to replace destructive testing methods, and (d) determine whether support vector machine (SVM) learning can predict LOXL2-induced collagen crosslinking. The combination of exogenous LOXL2 and LINK proteins created a synergistic 4.9-fold increase in collagen crosslinking density and an 8.3-fold increase in tensile strength as compared with control (CTL). Compressive relaxation modulus was increased 5.9-fold with addition of LOXL2 and 3.4-fold with combined treatments over CTL. FLIm parameters had strong and significant correlations with tensile properties (R2 = 0.82; p < 0.001) and compressive properties (R2 = 0.59; p < 0.001). SVM learning based on FLIm-derived parameters was capable of automating tissue maturation assessment with a discriminant ability of 98.4%. These results showed marked improvements in mechanical properties with matrix stabilization and suggest that FLIm-based tools have great potential for the non-destructive assessment of tissue-engineered cartilage.
Adaptive tensegrity locomotion: Controlling a compliant icosahedron with symmetry-reduced reinforcement learning:

Tensegrity robots, which are prototypical examples of hybrid soft–rigid robots, exhibit dynamical properties that provide ruggedness and adaptability. They also bring about, however, major challeng...
Combination of varenicline and nicotine patch for smoking cessation: A case report

Standard pharmacotherapy approaches to treat tobacco use may be ineffective in people with high nicotine dependence. Individuals with high nicotine dependence may be good candidates for a new treatment approach-combination of varenicline and nicotine patch.
Nonlinear Problems in Ballistics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the nonlinear problems in ballistics. The usual linear analysis of the pitching and yawing motion of a symmetric missile has been inadequate to handle three quite interesting problems: (1) rearward fire of 20- and 30-mm shells from Mach 2 bombers, (2) strong dependence on the initial conditions of a rocket propelled depth charge (Weapon A), and (3) the circular limit motions of low fineness ratio reentry configurations. The common approach to these three nonlinear problems is a generalization of the Krylov–Bogoluibov equivalent linearization technique to analytical complex equations of the second order. Thus, it has been assumed that the nonlinear motion over a few nutation cycles can be approximated by an epicycle whose frequencies and damping rates are certain averages of the nonlinear terms present in the exact differential equation.
Children's awareness of the context-appropriate nature of emotion regulation strategies across emotions.

Emotion regulation (ER) substantially develops during the childhood years. This growth includes an increasing awareness that certain ER strategies are more appropriate in some contexts than others,...
MRI Severity Scoring after Therapeutic Hypothermia Predicts Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

Background: Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) occurs in 1-2/1,000 term newborns and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Predicting long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates with HIE remains difficult. Our study aims to evaluate the predictive value of a scoring system for severity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in neonates with HIE who received therapeutic hypothermia Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of neonates (gestational age ≥ 35 weeks) born December 2006-October 2015 …
Toward a Policy-Relevant Definition of Biodiversity

Defining “Biodiversity” can be a challenge because the term functions in two arenas—scientific biology and conservation policy. First, it will be noted that there are arguments that apparently show that the term is not rigorously definable in a way that makes biodiversity an additive quantity; the consequences of this undefinability for policy will be discussed. Second, it will be argued that it is more important to develop a policy-relevant definition, a definition that reflects social value as well as scientific soundness in characterizing biodiversity, and which functions to allow communication about what to do. What is important is to have a definition that encourages shared actions and allows for the improvement of our linguistic tools. Perhaps it will be necessary to develop the concept of “biodiversity” as a scientific concept, while pairing it with a more readily understandable phrase, such as “the web of life” for use in public discussions.
Identification of lipid biomarker from serum in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States with no effective treatment. The current diagnostic method, spirometry, does not accurately reflect the severity of COPD disease status. Therefore, there is a pressing unmet medical need to develop noninvasive methods and reliable biomarkers to detect early stages of COPD. Lipids are the fundamental components of cell membranes, and dysregulation of lipids was proven to be associated with COPD. Lipidomics is a comprehensive approach to all the pathways and networks of cellular lipids in biological systems. It is widely used for disease diagnosis, biomarker identification, and pathology disorders detection relating to lipid metabolism. In the current study, a total of 25 serum samples were collected from 5 normal control subjects and 20 patients with different stages of COPD according to the global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) (GOLD stages I ~ IV, 5 patients per group). After metabolite extraction, lipidomic analysis was performed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to detect the serum lipid species. Later, the comparisons of individual lipids were performed between controls and patients with COPD. Orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were utilized to test the potential biomarkers. Finally, correlations between the validated lipidomic biomarkers and disease stages, age, FEV1% pack years and BMI were evaluated. Our results indicate that a panel of 50 lipid metabolites including phospholipids, sphingolipids, glycerolipids, and cholesterol esters can be used to differentiate the presence of COPD. Among them, 10 individual lipid species showed significance (p < 0.05) with a two-fold change. In addition, lipid ratios between every two lipid species were also evaluated as potential biomarkers. Further multivariate data analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC: 0.83 ~ 0.99) analysis suggest that four lipid species (AUC:0.86 ~ 0.95) and ten lipid ratios could be potential biomarkers for COPD (AUC:0.94 ~ 1) with higher sensitivity and specificity. Further correlation analyses indicate these potential biomarkers were not affected age, BMI, stages and FEV1%, but were associated with smoking pack years. Using lipidomics and statistical methods, we identified unique lipid signatures as potential biomarkers for diagnosis of COPD. Further validation studies of these potential biomarkers with large population may elucidate their roles in the development of COPD.
The Impact of Walking and Resting on Wrist Motion for Automated Detection of Meals

This article considers detecting eating in free-living humans by tracking wrist motion. We are specifically interested in the effect of secondary activities that people conduct while simultaneously eating, such as walking, watching television, or working. These secondary activities cause wrist motions that obfuscate those associated with eating, increasing the difficulty of detecting periods of eating. We collected a large dataset of 4,680 hours of wrist motion from 351 participants during free living. Participants reported secondary activities in 72% of meals. Analysis of wrist motion data revealed that the wrist was resting 12.8% of the time during self-reported meals compared to only 6.8% of the time in a cafeteria dataset, whereas walking motion was found 5.5% of the time during meals in free living compared to 0% in a cafeteria. Augmenting an eating detection classifier to include walking and resting detection improved accuracy from 74% to 77% on our free-living dataset (t[353] = 7.86, p
Statistical Approach to Modeling Reduced Shear Capacity of Corrosion-Damaged Reinforced Concrete Beams

AbstractIn the 2017, ASCE graded the national infrastructure of the United States as D+ overall. The ASCE gave the national School Buildings category a D+ grade and the Bridges category a C+ grade....